<p>The chamber appeals for an open dialogue regarding the construction of metro line D.</p>

The Czech Chamber of Architects (ČKA) is concerned about the current situation regarding the construction of Metro D. It believes that the recent implementation of new Metro A stations, which were created without an architectural competition and have received significant criticism from both experts and the public, is a clear example of how such an important public investment should not be carried out. The Chamber calls for adherence to basic requirements that should be standard practices in public procurement in construction: transparency of the entire process, selection of the contractor based on quality rather than price, and independent evaluation of multiple proposals by a professional jury.

These requirements are recommended by the Czech Chamber of Architects to be fulfilled through an architectural competition. ČKA has previously informed several Prague mayors and the management of the Metroproject company about the advantages of this solution, offering its cooperation in organizing an independent architectural competition. However, this appeal from the Chamber for quality in the procurement process for the new metro has not yet been reflected. Undoubtedly, this is a key contract in the fields of architecture, transportation infrastructure, and urban planning. With projected costs of 500 billion, it is also a significant investment from public funds for the capital city.

Despite the information being raised, the implementation of a competition is not a lengthy process that could threaten the construction of the new metro. It is true that preparing its initiation may take more time; however, because the announcer will procure a detailed study, the duration of the individual design phases can subsequently be shortened, thus reducing the overall time for the execution of the entire contract. As a result, there might not be any delay at all. Architectural competitions not only bring quality but also economic efficiency. This is confirmed by a recent analysis from EEIP The Impact of Architectural Practice on the Economy of the Czech Republic.

In addition to the undeniable qualitative and economic advantages, a competition provides the contracting authority with the opportunity to communicate the entire construction process with the public, thereby achieving not only transparency but also the desired involvement of the city's residents in the construction process of such a significant transportation project. When launching a design competition, the investor can select based on the ratio of price to comprehensive quality of the proposal. An advantage is also the opportunity to compare a larger number of proposals submitted by various teams entering the competition. The investor then chooses the most suitable option with the help of a professional jury and, along with it, a capable author team.

We remind that architectural competitions for metro stations are a well-established way of selecting designers in Europe and around the world, including in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as well as competitions held in Moscow and Hamburg. The Czech Chamber of Architects would welcome more high-quality architectural projects arising from public funds in the domestic environment. In the case of Metro D, it would be a shame to miss this opportunity and not provide our metropolis the chance to compare itself to other European cities that can boast well-designed transportation constructions.

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