Praha 3 selected the proposal for the transformation of Jiří z Lobkovic Square

Prague - The Town Hall of Prague 3 has a winner for the architectural competition for the design of the transformation of Jiřího z Lobkovic Square near the Olšany Cemeteries. The winning studio is Perspektiv. As representatives of the local government and architects told journalists today, the design includes adding trees, seating areas, a fountain, or a sports field to the square. According to Mayor Jan Ptáček (TOP 09), the modifications could be completed in a few years and are likely to cost tens of millions of crowns.

The square is located at the tram stop Olšanské hřbitovy and includes a tram loop. "The idea of revitalizing the square is not new; there have been several attempts in the past to advance this issue," said Ptáček. He added that the current leadership of the municipal district wants to hold open competitions for all similar projects. According to jury chairman, architect Ivan Plicka, 11 mostly quality proposals were submitted to this competition.

Martin Stára from the Perspektiv studio stated that the winning design aims to transform the currently disjointed space into a place for meetings for the people of Vinohrady. It is intended to be a kind of hybrid between a square and a park, with a green area preserved in the middle, suitable for activities like dog walking or resting. Most of the current trees are to be preserved, some will be cut down, and others added. In the end, according to the architect, the number of trees will increase, and there are also plans for planting new species, such as cherry trees.

A new space partially covered with tiles is to be created in front of the elementary school bordering the square on the southern side, which according to Stára evokes the interiors of Vinohrady apartments. It will include a fountain. In front of the school, the architects also proposed three playgrounds for various age categories. The study is not the final design; the project will now be further developed, but the basic principles should remain intact.

The architects plan to start gathering opinions from local residents at the beginning of next year and then incorporate them into a more detailed architectural study, addressing details such as types of paving or infrastructure. "I firmly believe that the architectural study will take a maximum of a year, followed by other phases of project documentation," said Stára. He added that afterward, it will depend on the speed of the permitting process, obtaining the necessary opinions, and similar factors.

"I hope it will go faster than the nearby Jiřího z Poděbrad Square," Ptáček added, referring to the reconstruction of another Vinohrady square, which has been ongoing for roughly 20 years. The mayor noted that if everything goes well, the modifications to Jiřího z Lobkovic Square could be completed in four years. The exact costs will only emerge from the project itself.

The third municipal district has repaired some smaller Žižkov squares in recent years, such as Komenského and Kostnické. Others, like Tachovské and Žižkovo, are planned. Perhaps the most emotional debates are surrounding the long-prepared reconstruction proposal for Jiřího z Poděbrad Square. The previous town hall leadership halted preparations for repairs based on a project from 2002, whereas the current administration has revived it after adjustments based on residents' feedback and recently commissioned the project documentation to be finalized. Reconstruction could begin next year or in 2022. Plans for modifications to the Vítkov hill are also underway.