Light over Sázava - regeneration of the city center

Authors: Ing. arch. Simona Fišerová and Ing. arch. Adéla Středová

Světlá nad Sázavou is a town with 7 thousand inhabitants, marked by insensitive interventions from 30 years ago. It serves as a catchment area for the residents of Posázaví. The town center is significantly affected by automobile traffic.
The aim of the competition is to address especially the immediate center of the town, namely the Trčků z Lípy square and the connecting streets.
Currently, a busy thoroughfare runs through the square, dominating the entire space. As a result, all traditional functions of the square have been suppressed.

The historical development of buildings is significantly reflected throughout the town. The square was particularly impacted in the seventies and eighties when the original buildings were demolished and replaced by a shopping center, a commercial center, and a hotel. Some of the parcels created in this way remain undeveloped to this day. This intervention completely disrupted the structure of the town, especially the square, which has become merely a "bend." The surrounding area of the town is marked by panel housing and newly emerging structures that make no effort to address the town's urban problems. Overall, the built-up area of the town appears very fragmented and inconsistent.

Urban and Architectural Solution
The urban solution lies in the unification of individual spaces, filling in the gaps of various parts (blocks). Individual historical building actions cannot be entirely denied. Therefore, we strive for the maximum unification of the entire structure of the town. We propose new constructions, block completions, and façade modifications, so that clear urban spaces emerge.

The Square
The sloping Trčků z Lípy square is a relatively large space that currently appears very unfinished. It seems more like a "big bend." Nowadays, the square has a completely different function than in the past; it is no longer used as the main shopping area of the town. Therefore, we decided to divide it into two parts by inserting a new building. Each newly created square has its own function. The main part - in front of the Town Hall. The so-called Upper Square or Town Hall Square (function "secular" - commercial). And the second part is in front of St. Wenceslas Church. The so-called Lower Square or Church Square (function "spiritual").

We propose the new building as a two-story structure. It is set into the sloping terrain of the square and clearly defines two new spaces. Its function in the first floor is a restaurant with a café, which will be accessible from the Upper Square. The entrance to the ground floor is from the Lower Square by the church. The function is a gallery, with the possibility of being used as a multifunctional hall.

In the current arrangement, the church is completely overshadowed in the square. The new division of spaces restores its dominance. We support this particularly with a monumental staircase leading to the church, towards the rectory located on the opposite side of the Lower Square. We propose a simple arrangement of sculptures on the staircase and the widened sidewalk in front of the rectory. Both original baroque and new ones.

The solution restores the original socio-cultural function of the square.

Paving
The individual functional parts of the square and the adjacent streets are differentiated primarily by paving, which we propose in continuity with the stone craftsmanship tradition of the town.

For the main thoroughfare, we chose a linear paving made of large granite cubes. The Upper and Lower Squares are made of stone cobblestone paving, arranged in a fan pattern. The typical bays in front of the houses are emphasized by rotating the cobblestone paving by 90°. A new bay was also created by inserting a new building. The sidewalks are proposed from Prague mosaic (5x5 cm). The surface of the remaining streets is made of circular paving from 10x10 cm cubes. In traffic-calmed streets, the circular paving is complemented by a central strip. The choice of road surfaces is based on the current conditions, where we are primarily replacing asphalt surfaces. In the green belt along the river, we propose gravel paths.

Greenspace
The center of the town is surrounded by the Sázava River from the southern side. The green strip surrounding the river runs almost up to the square, by St. Wenceslas Church. In the southeastern part of the addressed area, we propose park modifications along the river for recreational and sports purposes, following the reconstruction of the existing pool building currently serving as a disco. We consider the restoration of the sports and recreational function of this building to be beneficial.

We propose new tree avenues primarily in the square, where we again strive for clear spatial definition. To unify the overall expression of the square. Also, the greenery in the Lower Street will separate residential buildings from the heat exchange station.

Furniture and Lighting
In the square, we propose simple benches arranged in the space in front of the town hall, on the cobblestone paving. Additionally, in smaller triangular alcoves created by the original buildings in the eastern part of the square. In the Upper Square, the space in front of the new building can be utilized. There is the possibility of arranging tables for the restaurant and café.

For lighting the main streets in the town center, we propose modern public lighting lamps (Thorn Lighting - Alumet) in combination with wall lamps in narrower streets.

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From the Statement of the Evaluation Council:
The proposal is based on a comprehensive analysis of the area and broader relationships, emphasizing the understanding of historical ties in the structure of the town. It perceives the town as an organism, whose life is documented by layers of construction phases of development. To these layers, it assigns the layer of the 21st century, which has variable intensity in different parts of the town but simultaneously functions as a thoughtful and cohesive concept.
In the northwest segment, the original village street structure is proposed to be supplemented. The green belt along the river is addressed with the aim of enhancing recreational and resting functions. In the western front of the square, a completion in front of the commercial center is proposed, respecting the footprint of the original buildings, including arcades as public space. Further infill of gaps helps to restore the outline of the square, particularly at important corner positions.
The study perceives the shift in the meaning of the square and its relationship to the needs of the residents, and thus is not afraid to subdivide it by inserting a new multifunctional building into the "spiritual" part, significantly strengthening the connection between the rectory and the church, as well as the "secular" part dedicated to the town hall and commercial activities. At first glance, the bold building with a multifunctional hall, gallery, and café is a compositionally and materially thoughtful step that can provide the necessary positive impulse and enhance life in the town. The project should be understood as a cohesive vision aimed at revitalizing the town center while simultaneously serving as the basis for further individual projects to fulfill it.

Ing.arch. Tomáš Hradečný

Ing. arch. Simona Fišerová (1978) - graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at the Czech Technical University in Prague. In the years 2003 - 2005, she collaborated with the HŠH architects' studio. Since 2007, she has been collaborating with Adéla Středová.