The architects' competition for a new pool in Plzeň was won by AVE architect

Plzeň – The architectural competition for a covered swimming pool in Plzeň at Borská pole was won by a team of Plzeň architects – the architectural and design company AVE architekt. The winning design was approved today by the city representatives following the verdict of the expert jury. A total of 15 designs were submitted, and the competition was anonymous; no one on the expert jury knew who submitted which design, said Mayor Pavel Šindelář. The construction is expected to cost 250 to 300 million CZK. The city will now begin negotiations with the winner regarding the preparation of complete construction documentation.

The pool is to be located next to the campus of the University of West Bohemia (ZČU) in Borská pole on municipal land. It will replace the outdated swimming pool on Kozinova Street. "The first phase should aim for approval at the turn of 2024 and 2025, and the city anticipates co-financing from national sources," said Deputy Mayor Roman Zarzycký to ČTK in January during the announcement of the competition.

"Our intention is for it to consist of a multifunctional swimming hall with outdoor pools, sports facilities, and recreational areas," said the mayor. According to him, this is a significant public building in a prominent location, and therefore it was logical to organize an open architectural competition. According to a previous resolution of the city representatives, the project will be divided into a basic phase and a subsequent part with a relaxation complex, where accommodation with a restaurant, wellness facilities, slides, and an outdoor pool could be created. A parking lot or parking garage is to be included.

The winning design by Václav Ulč older and younger and Barbora Červeňová was praised by the expert jury for respecting the urban connections in the area, with the main entrance oriented toward the public transport stops. The outdoor sports areas are positioned in an intimate internal courtyard space in connection with the future park. According to Stanislava Maronová from the city’s concept and development department, the solution can be divided into phases that can be executed separately and independently.

The jury awarded three out of the fifteen submitted designs. The second place went to CUBOID ARCHITEKTI s. r. o. and the third to Martin Křivánek + FARA-ON union s. r. o.

"Now, a negotiation procedure without publication will follow, based on which the contract for the preparation of complete documentation of all stages, including author supervision, can only be awarded," stated Maronová. The expenses for obtaining all stages of the project documentation amounting to approximately 27 million crowns including VAT have already been allocated in the city's budget for this and next year.

"I do not understand why this competition cannot be open. So we can see what designs were submitted and which were rejected. And only after we vote on it will the other designs be revealed; why is it so secretive?" said the head of the opposition representative club Pavel Bosák (Pirates). According to Maronová, this is dictated by the competition rules. "The representatives did not comment on the evaluation results today, but primarily on the formal procedure. The evaluation cannot be changed. You accepted that when you approved the organization of that competition at all," she said.

All competition designs will be presented from Tuesday to June 3 at an exhibition in the ZČU library in Bory next to the site of the future pool. On Wednesday, May 18, there will be a vernissage at 3:30 PM with the participation of jurors and participants.