Kolín will present to the public a working version of the study on the transformation of Jirásko Square

Kolín – Kolín continues with the preparation of a study for the new layout of Jiráskové náměstí in Zálabí. The competition proposal, which emerged from the architectural competition announced by the city in 2021, this year received the main award in the Urban Project of the Year 2022 competition. The city will present a working version of the study to the public on Monday at 16:00 during a joint walk through the square and in a subsequent discussion, said mayor Michael Kašpar to journalists.

The city is collaborating with the winning team from the dropstudio atelier on the study. City officials plan to make changes to the square, which has doubled in size since its inception and primarily serves as a parking lot, in stages. "The timeline for gradual implementation may be long, but there is certainly no reason to lose faith and assume that the transformation will not happen," stated city architect David Mateásko. The study aims to propose new solutions for pedestrian and cyclist transport, the location of parking spaces, and green areas. The proposal includes, for example, relocating the street and creating a gravel surface; the construction of additional buildings is not currently planned.

Originally, Jiráskové náměstí was the village green of the now-defunct village of Mnichovice, which became part of Kolín in 1410. The current layout of the square, which was the second center of Kolín before the construction of Masaryk Bridge, was marked by the demolition of houses in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The square features the Church of St. Vitus, and historic houses with Art Nouveau elements have also been preserved.