Pension for Seniors in Opava - competition results

One-stage public architectural competition

Organizer: Statutory City of Opava

The subject of the competition was the development of a high-quality architectural design for a pension with a capacity of 50 independent residential units, with an area of up to 40 m². The small-sized apartments with barrier-free access and an evacuation lift of the caregiving service type aim to create housing for self-service citizens of retirement age with the possibility of home care services from doctors and nurses.

Competition timeline: November 11, 2011 - January 30, 2012

Jury:
Mgr. Dalibor Halátek, Deputy Mayor of the Statutory City of Opava - dependent juror
Ing. Radim Křupala, Director of the Senior Center Opava – dependent juror
Ing. arch. Zdeněk Bendík, Head of the Department of the Chief Architect and Urban Planning, City Hall of Opava – dependent juror, expertise: authorized architect
Prof. Ing. Akad. arch. Alena Šrámková – independent juror, expertise: authorized architect
Ing. arch. Milena Vitoulová   – independent juror, expertise: authorized architect
Prof. Ing. arch. Miroslav Masák – independent juror, expertise: authorized architect
Ing. arch. Radim Václavík – independent juror, expertise: authorized architect

Jury alternates
Ing. arch. Jitka Nešutová, planner of the Urban Plan, Department of the Chief Architect of Urban Planning, City Hall of Opava – dependent juror, expertise: architect
Ing. Petr Všetečka – independent juror, expertise: authorized architect
 
Total submitted proposals: 110

Total prizes and awards: 550 thousand CZK

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1st Reduced Prize (2x 200 thousand CZK)
Authors: Akad.arch. Václav Alda, Ing.arch. Peter Jurášek, Ing.arch. MgA. Juraj Sonlajtner, Ing.arch. Jakub Obůrka
Jury evaluation: The proposed building sensitively integrates urbanistically into the planned block development. Its clear linear mass provides a good opportunity for future supplementation. With a height of 6 stories, it connects with the surrounding apartment buildings. The mass of the building positioned along Hálková Street allows for a sunny courtyard and an intimate courtyard environment. Parking is proposed in front of the building and within the courtyard of the resolved area along its northeastern boundary.
The apartments are oriented towards the courtyard, while the hallway and vertical communication lead to the street. The quality of the living areas is enhanced by large French windows that create a compositionally balanced surface of the courtyard façade.
The plasticity of the street façade is emphasized by the accent of the staircase risalit and the rhythm of unevenly sized windows in the horizontal and vertical axes. The individual apartments do not have loggias; the dual layout of the apartments is purposeful and functional. The community room is located on the 5th floor together with a terrace that overlooks the northern, geographically interesting horizon.
The jury appreciated the overall architectural and urban design of the building, which is convincing and operationally conflict-free.

Authors: Ing.arch. Michal Schwarz, Ing.arch. Jindřich Starý, Tomáš Starý
Jury evaluation: A lapidary pair of houses with a dignified appearance. The first block is built on the street line, while the second is offset from Hálková Street, creating a new public space, only partially separated by a low wall, with the garden also being hidden and accessible through a narrow gap between the houses. Such positioning of the houses allows for further construction on parcels in the neighborhood. Parking is provided on a paved area along the northern edge of the property. Access to the complex is possible through a gate near the larger block, and the second block is directly accessible. There is always a covered arcade in front of the entrance. Vertical communication in each of the five-story blocks is facilitated by an elevator and stairs adjacent to the outer wall. Apartments with loggias are accessible from the hallway on the northwest side, while the apartments are oriented southeast.
The jury particularly appreciated the simplicity and dignity of both houses. The brick masonry combined with openings featuring wooden infill of paired windows and loggias is aesthetically very balanced, as are the proportions and positions of the individual columns of openings. The internal layout of the apartments with loggias is sufficiently spacious for placing typical furniture. A storage room located on the hallway directly by the apartment is practical, just as a built-in pantry close to the kitchenette. On the ground floor of the smaller block, there is a community room with a view into the garden. The jury deemed it important to highlight the problematic design of the protected escape route, which is essential for the purpose of the building. The overall assessment is that this house would quality complement the surrounding development and would be a dignified place to live.


3rd Prize (100 thousand CZK)
Authors: Katarína Ciglanová, Ing.arch. Rastislav Straňák
Collaboration: Ing.arch. Anita Stanková

Urbanism
The authors chose a striking solitary compact object with a square floor plan, which, according to the authors' report, softens the transition between the block-formed buildings and solitary houses. This solution is neutral, and there is no direct contact with the surrounding buildings. The design does not predetermine any form of completion of the neighboring northern parcel, which seems advantageous.
The rotation of the house on the north-south axis does not create a street space but allows for the integration of greenery into the ground floor. The layout design advantageously utilizes both the eastern and western facades to provide sunlight for the apartments.

Architecture
The shape of the building stems from the effort to eliminate operational costs for the building's operation. The low-energy intent led the authors to a compact shape that eliminates thermal losses in the building. This reasoning is successfully applied throughout the design. The house has the potential for low future operational costs. The facade design successfully plays out a chessboard motif that supports the elegant expression of the entire concept.
The house does not have loggias. The house builds neighborhood relationships in the interior of the communication space.
The jury positively assesses that the authors expressed the primary purpose of the building very straightforwardly in their approach. The solution is simple and devoid of ostentatious effects, presupposing low operational costs.
A potential shortcoming could be the absence of a protected escape route, which leads to the necessity to adapt the design in case of realization.


Reward (50 thousand CZK)
Authors: MgA. Ing.arch. Petr Uhlík, Ing.arch. Jan Šorm, Ing.arch. Přemysl Jurák
Jury evaluation: Proposal No. 28 is remarkable in that, unlike other proposals, it purposely does not connect to the height level of the adjacent six-story under-construction house and apartment building on Ratibořská Street but opts for a three-story building that attaches to the lower structure of older residential development. This intention leads to the necessity of a larger built-up area of houses on the parcel, which is resolved with a chessboard-style configuration of ten houses with internal courtyards - atriums. This arrangement provides conditions for a shared space. As a counterbalance to these advantages of the proposal, the jury mentions higher energy demands, and it is also questionable whether the intended quality of the space will emerge in the small internal atriums.

A public exhibition will take place from March 19, 2012, at 4:00 PM, House of Art, Pekařská St., Opava.

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