Students can propose a new design for the Philharmonic building in Prague

Prague - Students of architecture and building and fine arts disciplines can propose the design of the planned Vltava Philharmonic in Prague. The architectural competition for students was announced today by the company Central Group. Among other things, the competition includes an internship with architect Josef Pleskot.

"The Vltava Philharmonic building should be very welcoming and friendly. It must be an extraordinary cultural building that will shelter various social meetings and activities 24 hours a day," said architect Josef Pleskot.

According to the information on the website of the competition organizer, competitors should propose an inspiring conceptual urban-architectural design for the new national concert hall. The aim of the competition, according to Libor Monhart, the chief architect of Central Group, is to contribute to the debate on the appearance of this building, not a comprehensive design of the new building and the surrounding space defined by the Vltava River, Negrelli Viaduct, and Vltavská metro station. In the building, which should eventually house the Czech Philharmonic and the Symphony Orchestra of the Capital City of Prague FOK, participants from among the students should design, among other things, the main concert hall, several smaller multipurpose halls, ensemble facilities, and the main entrance foyer.

Students in full-time studies of architecture and related building and fine arts disciplines can submit their works by January 31, 2022. The winner of the student architectural competition will be selected by a jury led by architectural historian Zdeněk Lukeš. The evaluation will focus on the originality of the proposal, comprehensive architectural solution, artistic and graphic quality of the proposal, and clarity. The winning proposal should be announced in February of the following year. The main prize is 100,000 crowns and an internship at AP ATELIER with architect Pleskot. Competitors placing second and third will receive 50,000 crowns and 25,000 crowns, respectively, according to information from the Central Group website.

The appearance of the new philharmonic near Vltavská metro station is currently being sought. The architectural competition was announced by the Prague City Hall together with the Institute of Planning and Development (IPR) in August, and the winner is expected to be known in May 2022. The total cost of the building is estimated to be 6.1 billion crowns, of which 4.9 billion will be construction costs.

Discussions about the construction of a large concert hall in Prague have been ongoing for decades. The most debated issue was the suitable location. The hall could have been built in Letná in the 1990s at a site where the National Library was also considered based on a design by architect Jan Kaplický. Japanese investors wanted to dedicate the building to the Czech Philharmonic for its 100th anniversary. The then Minister of Culture Milan Uhde and Mayor Milan Kondor rejected their offer.