Hradec Králové will change the concept of the renewal of the Great Square, limit traffic, and add greenery

Hradec Králové – The city of Hradec Králové will change the basic concept of the long-prepared reconstruction of the historic Great Square. To this end, it will prepare an urban-architectural study for the renewal of the square, which will include a number of new requirements. This was stated by the deputy mayor for investments, Lukáš Řádek. The Great Square currently serves mainly as a parking lot for about 250 cars. The center is asphalted, and the paving around its perimeter is in poor condition.

The city had previously planned to renovate the square according to a proposal by the Hradec-based ARN studio led by architect Jiří Krejčík. His proposal for reconstruction was chosen by the Hradec councilors back in 2009. Now, according to Řádek, the city has agreed with the creators of the original concept that they will make a fundamental evolution of the original design based on their author’s rights.

The creators of the urban-architectural study should, based on the city’s request, examine the possibilities of calming or completely restricting traffic on V Kopečku street, which is currently one-way and cars leave it towards the Great Square. The city is also requesting an increase in greenery on the square and a change of solid surfaces to permeable or absorbent ones.

The study could be completed in the first quarter of next year. Subsequently, the city would announce a procedure for the preparation of project documentation for the reconstruction of the Great Square. If the city could not come to an agreement with the architects of the original solution, it would likely have to start everything from scratch, including a new architectural competition, noted Řádek.

The city is now requesting the issuance of a land use decision, which has been assessed by the municipal office in Hořice since 2016. According to Řádek, the city will withdraw this request. In the new procedure, the city is counting on a joint land use and building procedure.

The overall repair of the square, estimated at a quarter of a billion crowns, has been prepared by the municipality since 2007. Due to objections from part of the residents, who mainly oppose the planned reduction of parking spaces in the square, construction has not yet started. The city’s various efforts to unblock the situation have not been successful so far.

The Hradec municipality has obtained a European grant for the construction, but in 2012, the city returned the money due to concerns that it would not meet the deadline set by the grant. In 2018, the city had the damaged surface of the square temporarily repaired.

For most political entities in Hradec Králové, the reconstruction of the damaged square is a traditional pre-election topic. For the current city council coalition, composed of four entities, the preparation of the reconstruction of the Great Square is one of the main priorities.