III. Bohuslav Fuchs Prize - winning projects

Wave overtopping – wave overflow
Author: Bc. Lenka Holcnerová, 5th year
Supervisor: Ing.arch. Jan Mléčka

The design idea utilizes the principle of generating electrical energy from the ocean: Wave overtopping - Wave overflow. The principle is materialized and applied in the architectural depiction of the coastline. This new 'transition' between water and land is not just a passive pounding of the ocean against the land but a way to utilize the infinite potential of the element for our interests. It is applicable wherever there is no beach or sufficient access to water. It expands and thus democratizes the area for ocean utilization: making the inaccessible accessible, reconverting the unused, creating new - 'stone beaches', generating electrical energy from the eternal movements of the ocean for more and more people in coastal cities...

Conceptual solution:
A podium for eternal overflow, for the transition between the ocean and the land.

Principle of generating electrical energy:
The surf carries water into a reservoir above sea level. Water is released from the reservoir back into the ocean through a turbine generating electricity.

Architectural solution:
A gradual slope into the ocean – I propose a slope of 7 degrees as the optimal average. (It depends on the extent of tidal phenomena, intensity, and speed of the surf.) The slope is cut by five horizontal slits – narrow tanks for water from waves, which are regularly washed up the slope by the surf – an artificial beach. Four of them serve to capture waves, the fifth for returning water to the ocean. Four are at a 2-degree slope towards land and empty into a pipe with a turbine, while the fifth slopes 2 degrees towards the ocean and empties below the surface. I propose four capturing slits spaced to cover the range of fluctuations caused by tides. The entire slope is clad in stone typical for the respective coastal area. For Portugal, Lioz limestone. The stone at the foot of the ocean is roughly processed, breaking the waves rushing into the mid-slope, where medium-processed stone is used. At the highest part of the slope, where only small disappearing waves slide, the stone is processed the finest.
The slits are divided into chambers of 9x9 meters. This measure determines the width of the pools that are cut into the slope: at the foot of the ocean - deepest for strong swimmers and divers, in the center common pools for relaxation and gathering, at the top shallow paddling pools. Pools are proportioned at a ratio of 2 common to 1 for strong swimmers and 1 paddling pool. Water is constantly replenished by the surf.

Expected energy production:
Every kilowatt-hour from ocean surf will become more and more valuable as oil reserves diminish and its price increases. The expected energy production of a 9-meter-wide chamber module is 200 kWh per month. (Consultation with the Wave Energy Center – Think tank at Instituto Superior Técnico Lisboa).

Public space:
A pleasant ocean environment as a public space for all residents of coastal cities. The costs of construction and operation will be paid by the energy it generates... It provides a physical and mental experience of the ocean as an iconic masterpiece, yet it does not cost even 1,000,000 Euros (estimated price of Casa van Thillo by Alberto Campo Baeza) or 6.50 Euros (entry fee to the Leça de Palmeira pools by Álvaro Siza Vieira).

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Strategies for the regeneration of panel housing estates
Authors: Miroslava Šešulková, Marek Petrík, and Martin Surovec, 3rd year
Supervisor: doc. Ing.arch. Maxmilián Wittmann, Ph.D.

Activating community relationships in the housing estate

How the Czech panel building gained its reputation
The initial vision of socialist panel housing estates was built with the idea of suppressing individual identity. Essentially, it was a social experiment. Thousands of people moved to one place at once without any prior connections. People often came to the estate from villages, where individuals typically have a strong relationship with the land. Suddenly, they were supposed to care about nothing but their apartment - 70 m², where the family was to spend all their free time. Over time, the estate became an overnight stop for workers of all classes, and people met only on their way to and from work. The weekend represented a trip to cottages and summer houses, and people were unable to spend their free time in the housing estate. They didn't even have the means to do so. Generally, there was no money to develop public space according to original plans. Instead of the proposed civic amenities, sports and cultural facilities, spaces emerged that have no function and lack park greenery. They became a void in the estate. Places in the housing estate have no memory. One cannot tell what had been there a hundred years ago. Even if people had this knowledge, they would not share it. It is paradoxical that in such a large crowd of people, some still experience (and experience) loneliness and disappointment, often separated by just 150 mm of prefabricated panel. The concept of neighborhood in the estate is rather unclear. Neighbors may greet each other but feel no sense of belonging. They rather try to escape from each other, perhaps as if they felt guilty for stepping out of their apartments. About 31% of the population of the Czech Republic lives in estates. That is 3 million people. Enough to try to improve their situation. Although housing estates are built in various contexts, their problems are generally the same everywhere. Currently, there is a revitalization of panel buildings across the country. A new façade, replaced windows, and repaired housing cores cannot change the worst aspects of life in the estates.

Can these problems be solved differently?

Strategy - Strengthening social ties in the community
We focused on strengthening community relationships at all scales of the housing estate:

Apartment – House and entrance – Entire estate

Apartment - Distribution, balcony - social facade
Changing demographics, structure, and number of residents generates changes in distribution. While panel buildings were designed for a typical family - two adults and two children, this situation has changed significantly today.
Socialization begins within the family. At the apartment scale, social ties can improve with simple interventions. By connecting the kitchen with the living room, a clearer space is created, where families can form stronger bonds and spend time together. Movable partitions create a variable space that adapts to the user. A large balcony increases the living area of the apartment and invites the family into the outdoor environment. People spend more time on the facade, are visible, and communicate with each other.

House and entrance - Community cell
Panel buildings are divided into entrances. People from the entrance know each other, greet each other, and consider themselves neighbors. They often have to meet at house meetings, where they discuss matters concerning the house. This is a potential that could be utilized to strengthen their social ties. The community cell can serve as a platform for this development.
The community cell serves for house meetings, where residents agree on the operation of the house, people utilize the space for celebrations, and mothers with children for play. The cell also extends interest into the surrounding space. It can serve as a base for gardening. Creating flower beds adds quality to the public space.
The cell is transparent. In the evening, when community members gather, it lights up. Light signifies life and activity. It attracts the attention of other people.
Community activity in the cell expands into the surroundings. People start noticing other spaces. They begin to care about them. Neighborhood relationships form that break the typical anonymity of the estate.

Housing estate - Meeting places for the community
Brno is a radially grown city. It has a compact core built in the form of urban blocks. Beyond this urban structure lie other city parts. Some developed as villages that gradually joined the city. Others were built as panel estates in the last century. All are wholes that function independently, yet everyone also cares about the city center. In the place where residents live, they create neighborhood relationships and social ties. However, this happens much less in estates than in areas with a village character.
The community in the village gathers at certain places, which its members also take care of. It often doesn't concern the indoor spaces so much as the forecourts of these buildings. Often they can be found in the village square, which is essentially a multifunctional public space where various events can be organized. Whether these are events for the whole municipality (feasts, maypole raising, carnivals, etc.) or simply individual events occupying public space. Everyone understands that this is where the importance of the entire municipality lies. In this space, people's interaction occurs, and their neighborhood ties are strengthened.

Church - Community house
The church in the housing estate does not have to be a monofunctional building but can become a center of community life. Besides an ecumenical space shared by multiple churches, it also has a large hall that offers spaces for social events in a dignified environment through various connections. The forecourt of the church is also important, where the community meets.

Reconstruction of kindergartens and opening up the space in front of them
The four current kindergarten pavilions disrupt the permeability of the space with their adjacent playgrounds. By relocating the kindergartens to the second floor and creating play areas at the 2nd floor level, a new function can be created in the unencumbered ground floor. The freed playgrounds serve as a living street where residents can truly “stay.” Inside, spaces emerge for various leisure activities. These are flexible and multifunctional rooms that accommodate handicraft activities, sports, games, computer classrooms, music rehearsal rooms. Simply everything that generates interest.

Creation of space for markets near the shopping center
The current shopping center has a very inadequate surrounding area. Despite this fact, residents still linger here. The site with great potential on the southern slope offers opportunities for creating living areas. On today's parking lot, a temporary market with a stage for seasonal fairs can arise. The stage can also host events such as feasts, Christmas performances, etc. The connection of this space to the housing estate is ensured by a series of living stairs.

Prefabricated system of populating public space
Panel housing estates are built with prefabricated systems. However, the public space of these units is not friendly to its residents. The vision of housing estate furnishings is based on the same principle of prefabrication. It offers people a platform in space that is sufficiently flexible and where they can spend leisure time. These are also places where interaction and the creation of social ties occur. Visually, the system unifies the space and creates the identity of the entire estate.

Vision of an active community
These interventions aim to activate the indifferent housing estate society, which does not care much about the environment in which they live. There is no need to reconstruct the entire estate, but to start influencing public space through certain platforms. The platforms begin to pulse with the interest of residents, which expands to the surroundings. Interest zones intersect and create social ties within the community.

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Mendlovo náměstí – multipurpose building
Author: Daniel Struhařík, 2nd year
Supervisor: Ing.arch. Pavel Jura

Urban planning solution
As can be seen from the urban planning analysis, Mendlovo náměstí has undergone several insensitive interventions in its recent history. The watercourse running through the center was filled in. Where the city baths and municipal greenery used to be, a panel building was constructed. Thus, a street leading to the exhibitions was created.
The proposed building separates this main problem from the square, thus providing potential for interventions that can restore the square's character.
Since time immemorial, verticals have been part of public space. The town hall with the town hall tower above the surrounding buildings as a symbol of administrative power. The church, as a symbol of values transcending us.
Both these dominants are part of Mendlovo náměstí: the basilica and the visible Špilberk. For this reason, I subordinated the height of the building to the surrounding structures and kept a compact shape that does not dominate the surroundings.
The building is derived from the surrounding structures both in height and in the facade grid.

Architectural solution
In terms of mass, it is a compact shape. However, it is interrupted by loggias.
The facade fully reflects the function. For the upper three residential floors, the following rule applies: apartment with a larger area (more rooms) = larger loggia. More luxurious apartments are more numerous towards the top.
The interior space of the loggia is a combination of window openings and a suspended glass facade.
Typologically it is a three-hall arrangement. In the residential part, the lighting problem is solved by 'biting' the grid in the facade. This allows one apartment to use a generous private terrace while also providing lighting to the shared corridor. Access to every 2 apartments is oriented from this space. Separation of the corridor and terrace is done using frosted glass.
At the core of circulation, the landing of the stairs is rotated. This allows us to avoid penetration of the corridor into the facade.
For the administrative floor, the social facilities are solved in the form of a narrow space in the middle tract.