Plzeň will announce an architectural competition for modifications to the central Republic Square

Plzeň - Plzeň will announce an architectural competition for modifications to the central Republic Square. The city hall wants the area, which is 1.2 hectares in size, to become a more welcoming place for the residents of Plzeň. It plans to calm and green the space with trees. From the open architectural competition, the city expects to receive enough quality designs and various concepts, from which an expert jury will select a winner by the end of the year. Mayor Roman Zarzycký (ANO) said this today. Projecting should begin next year. The city council approved the plan today, and it will still be evaluated by the council.

According to the city leadership, the revitalization of Republic Square should improve the conditions for staying, increase the comfort and safety of pedestrians and cyclists, attract more pedestrians between the square and the U Zvonu area, create space for outdoor dining, and improve the flow of public transport. The proposal should also include rainwater management.

"We would be happy if, in the summer, the heated paved area became an attractive place where people would love to relax, through which they would enjoy walking, that would come alive overall, become more connected with its surroundings, and be welcoming in every way," said Deputy Mayor Pavel Bosák (Pirates).

According to Deputy Mayor Aleš Tolar (STAN), the competition is also intended to propose a new traffic regime for the square, which should no longer serve as a large roundabout as it has until now. "The goal is to calm the space and limit passing through and parking here. This is particularly offered on the western side of the square, where new pedestrian zones will connect to the existing ones on Smetanova and Riegrova streets," he said.

Once the council approves the competition plan, a competition jury will be formed, which will create the assignment and conditions that will determine what the participants should focus on. "We want to involve experts from architecture, public space, but also, for example, heritage preservation in the discussion about their formation, as we are within a city heritage reserve," said the director of the concept and development department, Irena Vostracká. The mayor added that heritage protection is paramount. "We want to approach history as sensitively as possible," he added.