The entrance gates of the Prague Exhibition Grounds - announcement of the competition

Prague, in cooperation with the company Rozvojové projekty Praha, a. s., announces an architectural competition for the adjustment of the entrance area to the Exhibition Grounds. The competition will focus on the design of two new entry gates, as well as modifications to adjacent public spaces. The winning design will be announced in the spring, and the implementation could commence as early as 2018. The goal is to restore the dignity of the Exhibition Grounds, which it deserves as a city-wide significant area, to open it up to the public and to better connect it with the entire district. The competition is sponsored by the Institute of Planning and Development of the City of Prague (IPR).

“The Exhibition Grounds are a very significant space for Prague, and I am glad that we are finally able to develop it. In addition to the competition for the entrance gates, we will also be renovating the Lapidarium and the Bohemia restaurant this year, a new grilling area will be created, and we hope to complete a water biotope as well. I believe that thanks to this, the Exhibition Grounds will become a place that people will enjoy visiting and that will finally begin to fulfill its potential,” says Mayor Adriana Krnáčová.

The Exhibition Grounds were established on the occasion of the Jubilee Land Exhibition - a large exhibition event that took place in Prague in 1891. They were built on land separated from the Stromovka park. Today, however, the entire area, including the Industrial Palace, is in very poor technical condition. This has been exacerbated by long-term neglect as well as floods and a major fire in 2008 that destroyed the left wing of the Industrial Palace.

Since 2015, the Exhibition Grounds have been managed by Rozvojové projekty Praha, a. s. (RPRG), a joint-stock company owned by the capital city, through which Prague aims to gradually restore the entire area. The first step towards the restoration of the area was the creation of an overall concept. IPR developed this. According to it, the Exhibition Grounds should be divided into five zones dedicated to culture, entertainment, sports, relaxation, and open-air event space. A water biotope, grilling area, and BMX track should be created, for example. Prague also plans to renovate the Křižík Fountain and the Spirála Theater.

Part of the concept included the timing of individual steps for the overall restoration of the area. The announcement of the architectural competition for the entrance gates falls within the first phase. In the spring, another architectural competition could be announced, this time for the temporary covering of the left wing of the Industrial Palace.

“The architectural competition for the adjustment of the entrance area is an opportunity to initiate the gradual transformation of the Exhibition Grounds in Prague. It is precisely the entrance area that the visitor to the Exhibition Grounds and the random passerby perceive first,” says IPR Director Ondřej Boháč.

The competition will be public, anonymous, and held in one round. It will be announced on January 19, 2017, and authors may submit their projects until March 27, 2017. The contracting authority will then conclude a contract with the author of the winning design for the completion of the documentation. The jury will include renowned architects Miroslav Cikán and Markéta Cajthamlová, as well as Mayor Adriana Krnáčová, representative of the contracting company Pavel Klaška, and Prague 7 councilor, architect Lenka Burgerová. The winner will receive a reward of CZK 120,000, the second place will be awarded CZK 70,000, and the author of the third place design will receive CZK 40,000. The announcer of the competition is the company RPRG, and the Institute of Planning and Development of Prague has taken patronage over the competition.

Competitors should propose solutions that are maximally functional from an operational standpoint and also artistically appropriate to the environment of the Exhibition Grounds. New main and secondary entrance gates will be proposed for the area, including adjustments to the fencing, new ticket offices, and the establishment of concepts for placing advertising and communication surfaces. The design of the modifications of the adjacent spaces must also be of high quality, offering places for gatherings and relaxation, including appropriate furnishings, lighting, and vegetation. The entrance area of the Exhibition Grounds should be transformed into an open and representative space, well connected to the structure of the surrounding city.

For more information, documents, and conditions, please download at www.iprpraha.cz/vystavistevstupnibrany.