Edward Beneš Square in Moravian Ostrava - competition results

The competition for the design solution of the Dr. E. Beneš Square and its surroundings, announced by the city of Ostrava in July of last year, has its winner. Its main task was to find an answer to the question of what form and usage this important public space should have. The jury, composed of independent experts, city representatives, and district representatives, selected the proposal by the team of authors Ing. arch. Jiří Mika, Ing. arch. Martin Materna, Ing. arch. Markéta Káňová, Ing. arch. Petr Svoboda, Ing. arch. Adéla Kudlová, and Ing. arch. Vendula Bažová. The proposal brings overall cultivation of the space, which will offer a pleasant environment for spending time and possibly also for conducting various activities. It also considers the possibility of future construction on the site of the former German House.
The task of this urban-planning and architectural competition, organized by the City Atelier for Spatial Planning and Architecture (MAPPA), was to solve the form, appearance, and usage methods of the public space, which is designated as a square but currently resembles a passage park. In addition, the proposal was to address the cultural aspect of the area, assess the condition of the surrounding streets, and take into account associated projects that are planned here, particularly the upcoming reconstruction of the former department store Ostravica complex.
"It is worth noting that within the solution, we deal with two time perspectives. The first is, let's say, medium-term, where the main task is to cultivate the public space, but there is no consideration for completing the addressed area. The second is long-term and deals with more fundamental and complex problems, such as the completion of the area or the inappropriate above-ground section of the parking lot in front of the hotel. Therefore, the proposal must be conceived so that it is functional and sustainable at every stage. The winning proposal fulfills this very well. Subsequently, there will be negotiations with the aim of concluding a contract for project work. The first phase, with an estimated value of 30 million crowns, is expected in 2024," stated Deputy Mayor Zuzana Bajgarová.
The competition was set as open and two-phase. In the first round, which focused on the overall concept, three proposals were submitted. One of the submitted proposals was excluded from the evaluation due to not meeting the mandatory conditions of the competition. Thus, two proposals advanced to the second round, where their authors were tasked with focusing on the solution of the detail of the public space.
The jury evaluated the proposals in terms of the quality of the overall urban-planning and architectural solution, transportation solution, economy, and economic appropriateness. After a long discussion, it decided to award only second place. This prize, along with the associated evaluation of 300 thousand crowns, was awarded to the proposal of the aforementioned team, and it was recommended for realization. The jury also set points in which they recommend that the proposal be further developed in the following stages of documentation.
"The jury positively assessed that the proposal divides the area into three different parts, which have a pleasant size for users. These include the space in front of the town hall, a park square with existing mature greenery, and the area of the former German House, which is emphasized by a different type of chosen paving. The proposal also successfully works with the volumetric regulation of the object that could be built in the future on the site of the former German House. On the other hand, the solution of the so-called blue-green infrastructure remains to be further developed, as well as the relationship between linear and free greenery in the park from a landscape point of view. Furthermore, it is necessary to resolve the height transition at the garages of the Imperial Hotel and the requirements for accessibility. There will also need to be more thought given to the use of the land under the planned building of the E complex of Ostravica before it is constructed," added the director of the MAPPA atelier Ondřej Vysloužil.
The selected team of authors is engaged in processing urban studies, residential, public, and industrial buildings, including renovations as well as interior and design proposals. The authors work independently in the ateliers Mika Svoboda architekti s.r.o. and WMA architects, and they share frequent collaboration.
The author of the second proposal is the architectural office gogolák + grasse. The jury awarded this proposal a prize of 150 thousand crowns. Among other things, it positively assessed the work with greenery, specifically the proposal for a row of trees on Nádražní Street. However, the jury felt that this proposal lacked a clear urban solution.
The evaluation of the proposals was attended by representatives of the city and district, as well as many experts in urban planning, architecture, and landscape architecture. Among others, doc. Ing. arch. Miroslav Cikán, Ing. arch. Jan Sedlák, Ing. arch. Milena Vitoulová, Ing. arch. Vladimír Fialka, Ing. arch. Jana Zdráhalová, Ph.D, Ing. Lýdia Šušlíková, and the author of the Black Cube building proposal akad. arch. Ladislav Kuba. Representatives of the National Heritage Institute, who were involved in preparing the competition assignment, representatives of the Ostravica complex, and the Imperial Hotel were also invited.
The public can familiarize themselves with the competition proposals at the exhibition organized by the city atelier MAPPA in its space Za výlohou starting March 31. The exhibition will be opened with a vernissage on March 30, 2022, at 5:00 PM.