New Administrative Center of Czech Forests - Competition Results

The subject of the competition was the design of a new administrative center for the Lesy České republiky (Forests of the Czech Republic) in Hradec Králové, whose construction is located within the area of the current headquarters of the state enterprise Lesy České republiky, s. p. in Hradec Králové, ensuring the objective suitability of the architectural solution to the requirements of the organizer regarding the purpose and operation of the administrative center.

Organizer: Lesy České republiky, s. p.
Statutory representative: Ing. Daniel Szórád, Ph.D., General Director
Secretary of the competition: Ing. arch. Tomáš Veselý

Regular jury members - dependent
Ing. Jiří Boháček
MUDr. Zdeněk Fink
Ing. Daniel Szórád, PhD

Regular jury members - independent
Ing. arch. Jan Aulík
Doc. Ing. Miroslav Šik
Prof. Dorte Mandrup
Prof. Dietmar Eberle

Substitutes for the jury - dependent
Ing. Karel Buchta, Ph.D.
Ing. Igor Kalix, MBA
Ing. Václav Lidický
Ing. Radovan Srba
Ing. Petra Matoušková
Ing. Lenka Zahálková
Ivan Chalupa
Daniel Kocour
Ing. Miroslav Matějka
Petr Štefec

Substitutes for the jury - independent
Ing. arch. Pavel Hnilička
Ing. arch. MArch Adam Gebrian

Date of the competition: 12.7.2016 - 10.1.2017
Date of publication of the results: 1.2.2017
Number of submitted proposals: 42
Total prizes and rewards: 3,700,000 CZK

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1st prize - 1,550,000 CZK
Authors: CHYBIK + KRISTOF ASSOCIATED ARCHITECTS s. r. o. + K4 ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS + Ing. arch. Jan Stolek + breathe.earth.collective
Jury's evaluation: This design for the building of Lesy ČR is very sensitively integrated into the surrounding nature. The building intertwines with the forest, creating a composition of extraordinarily friendly scale. The concept is based on a center, the heart of the building, from which 5 modeled fingers, the individual operational parts of the building, unfold. The designed concept does not resemble conventional administrative buildings of the past; rather, it resembles another type of public building, such as university campuses and schools, fulfilling a modern vision of a future-oriented building. The proposal's merit is the very natural opening of the building into the fore-space, symbolically connecting and closely intertwining with nature. The two-story solution allows for very quick and easy communication flows between the two floors of the "subcenter." The subcenters represent somewhat informal working and very well-functioning zones, contributing to further possibilities of a pleasant working environment and can also serve as a suitable capacity reserve. In any further potential development of the project, the appropriateness of the size of these subcenters in relation to other office spaces may be a partial issue. The structural and layout solution of the above-ground parts is in mutual harmony, allowing for the choice of individual offices as individual cells or as so-called open space, or even a combination of both. An undeniable quality of this proposal is the views from all offices and their sufficient daylight (natural) lighting. Despite a less compact layout scheme, the proposal has an acceptable efficiency. The building is designed with sufficient construction height for optimal lighting and internal installations. The authors proposed credible modularity for the declared solution employing a wooden structural system. It is precisely this modularity of the building that truthfully manifests in the facades created through the alternation of solid and glazed panels, maintaining a balance between the requirements for natural lighting and energy adequacy. The feasibility of the project in phases, so as not to cause significant disruption to the operation of Lesy ČR, is possible. If the jury were to criticize this proposal, it would highlight the fact that the design does not contain completely the same footprint for the underground and above-ground parts; in the case of selecting this proposal as the winning entry, it would be appropriate to correct this detail within the basement, which should not be problematic. The founding of the above-ground floors partially outside the perimeter of the basement could complicate and increase the cost of construction. The jury would conclude that this proposal represents progressive and sensitive architecture excellently representing Lesy ČR. The proposed solution guarantees the economy and economic appropriateness of the proposal and is thus wholly satisfactory. The proposal impressed the jury with its integration of interior spaces and outdoor nature, its functional, structural, and architectural quality, including exceptionally high quality of its elaboration. The jury also positively evaluated the fact that the authors presented a significantly refined and logically and functionally thought-out proposal in the second round.

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2nd prize - amount of 930,000 CZK
Authors: Ing. arch. Sosna, Ing. arch. Straka, Atelier bod architekti s.r.o., Ing. Svoboda
Jury's evaluation: The urban concept of this competition proposal is clear and simple in a positive sense. The proposed building, characterized as a low pavilion, has a harmonious and clear relationship with the landscape, is welcoming, and open to the general public, thus creating a friendly public space. The effective concept of a compact footprint allows for rational layout solutions and has a close connection to the external nature. A centrally designed access to the building, connected to the entrance hall, permits clear orientation within the building with a classic layout arrangement. The inviting and uncomplicated architecture utilizing wood in numerous constructions underlines the atmosphere of the overall openness of the design. Individual offices of various typologies have enough natural light, and fresh air can be used for ventilating spaces. The high functionality and compactness of the project enable effective solutions to the given task, while a minor drawback of the proposal is a slightly smaller area compared to the original construction program. However, this deficiency in the given layout structure can be relatively easily remedied. The smaller number of offices located in the southern part of the building's design has a debatable proportion regarding work comfort (they are too narrow for the given depth). Parts of the corridors between the offices will presumably not have sufficient natural lighting. In the context of detailed and objective evaluation of this otherwise very successful proposal, the jury noted that the design does not clearly demonstrate the feasibility of the proclaimed wooden supporting structure. Additionally, the fact that not all vertical supporting structures are continuous from the basement may lead to higher construction costs. The feasibility of the project in phases, so as not to cause significant disruption to the operation of Lesy ČR, is possible. Compared to the proposal submitted in the first round of the competition, the competitor improved the design of the fore-space of the building – landscape modifications and parking areas; however, not all potential for finding a completely satisfactory landscaping solution was exhausted. The jury would conclude that the proposed solution is economical and economically appropriate. The proposal impressed the jury with its functional, structural, and architectural quality, as well as the quality of its elaboration. The authors of this proposal managed to find a very purposefully designed project that is a suitable and adequate solution.

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3rd prize - 620,000 CZK
Author: DAM architekti s. r. o.
Jury's evaluation: The proposal is monumental. The contour of the layout symbolically reflects the outline of the Czech Republic. The building distances itself from the surroundings due to its monumentality. The facade of the building is created with trunks reminiscent of a dense forest. The jury appreciates the expression of the house, which, however, corresponds more to a monumental memorial than an administrative center. It can be expected that the outer row of trees will lead to a certain weakening of the impression of the office spaces and corridors. The image, fascinating from the outside, does not find a suitable modularity in the layout of the offices. The project does not provide direct evidence of the possibility of effective use of wood for the internal structures. In the jury's opinion, the solution aligns more closely with traditional solutions utilizing reinforced concrete. The layout solution with an internal corridor without natural lighting does not demonstrate sufficient variability. The placement of accommodation areas in the lower underground floor with a northern orientation is considered unsuitable by the jury. Furthermore, the roofing of the parking lot and its placement did not convince the jury of the layout and economic advantage. In the second round, the proposal significantly progressed; the construction phases (staging) from the standpoint of uninterrupted operation of Lesy ČR are appropriate. Economically, due to the height of the building and the parking solution with a green roof, the proposal is the most expensive.

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Reward - 300,000 CZK
Author: CUBOID ARCHITEKTI s. r. o.
Jury's evaluation: At first glance, a simple and straightforward architectural solution with a monumental shape. The facade solution is unpretentious, albeit mainstream. Wood is appropriately and realistically utilized as a building material. The optical closure of the compact, monumental shape of the house, however, detaches the house from the surrounding nature. The architecture of the three-story building is based on classical wooden structures. Typologically, it is a two- to three-wing solution with two internal atriums, which are fully roofed. Photovoltaic panels are further installed on the glazed roofs, which additionally shade the atriums. Some offices are positioned such that the windows open only into this space. This raises questions about the suitability of lighting and ventilation in these areas. There is no opportunity for natural ventilation. The quality of daylight will likely also be lower here. In terms of effectiveness, the project ranks among the economically demanding. Maintenance of the horizontal slatted facade will be challenging and does not correspond to the idea of a long-term sustainable concept, despite the use of quality materials. Regarding the staging of the project, the jury indicates that the project anticipates the demolition of the Silvia building before the implementation of the new headquarters itself. This demolition would lead to additional direct costs. It can also be expected that there will be significant operational problems. The level at the bottom of the atrium has not developed in comparison to the design in the first round. The jury regrets to state that the project has not fully developed its otherwise very stimulating concepts towards their feasibility since the first round. Additionally, the jury notes that there are trees of the temperate zone in the atriums, which the jury does not consider suitable for the interior of the building, given that they must also undergo the winter natural cycle. Offices with views through the massive solid slats of the facade are also deemed an unsuitable solution by the jury.

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Reward - 300,000 CZK
Authors: Atelier CMJN - AED project
Jury's evaluation: The basic idea of the proposal was, in the first round, a building that revolves around an open outdoor atrium. A building that integrates into nature. The jury was fascinated by the elegance of the rounded form in the landscape park. The position of the main entrance to the building was a convincing element of the project. In the second round, the atrium became an internal space, roofed with a wooden structure with credible proportions of the individual wooden elements. This creates a space for the staircase and for movement within the building. On the other hand, it worsens the quality of lighting and access to fresh outside air into the offices adjacent to this atrium. It can be expected that the main atmosphere of the atrium will not compensate for these shortcomings. The project also anticipates the demolition of the Silvia building in the first phase of construction. The proposal suggests considering the use of temporary prefabricated buildings, but it does not offer any placement for them or any solution for this temporary state. The construction is simply good in the best sense; the jury appreciates the layout solution without internal columns, allowing high flexibility and variability. The jury positively evaluated the landscape modifications around the building. However, according to the economic analysis, this is a relatively costly project. The elaborated solution of the space in front of the building and the suitable placement of the outdoor parking lot was, according to the jury, disrupted by the placement of the car wash and workshop into a separate object. The radical change between the first and second rounds did not lead according to the jury to the resolution of defined problems nor to the expected outcome. The high qualities for which the proposal was selected for the second round were not developed in any way, rather there was a slight negation of them.

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Special reward from the 1st round of the competition - 50,000 CZK
Author: Akad. arch. Jiří Deýl
Jury's evaluation: The proposal was awarded for its position and location of the project from an urbanistic perspective, which presents an interestingly solved opening of the space in front of the building for the general public.

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Special reward from the 1st round of the competition - 50,000 CZK
Authors: Anne-Sereine Tremblay, Bartosz Michal Haladus
Jury's evaluation: For a very interesting approach to integrating the building into the landscape formed by the surrounding forests. The second reason for awarding the prize to this proposal was the approach to the project sketch, which, in essence, approached the expansion of the surrounding forests rather than their suppression.

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