The square in Varnsdorf will be transformed, the water feature was designed by architects

Varnsdorf – E. Beneš Square in Varnsdorf in the Děčín region, with several benches, flower pots, and a few trees that have unintentionally turned into a parking lot over the years, will transform. It will have a completely new surface. While cars will not disappear entirely, there will be designated spots for them on the edges, creating a relaxation space and restoring the square's representative function. Its centerpiece will be a water feature designed by architects. Among the 32 proposals submitted to the architectural and artistic competition, the design by Ondřej and Eliška Buš was successful.

"The pavement and furniture will be revitalized, new trees will be planted, and a rainwater management system will be installed. Overall, the square should be cultivated to truly become a square rather than the parking lot it is today," said city architect Jan Hrouda to ČTK. The plan to renew the square has existed for years, and the project documentation is now being developed.

During the years when discussions about transforming the square near the town hall took place and various paths toward a final outcome were explored, the inclusion of a water feature was always considered. "We concluded that it is an important matter and that the ideal solution for the water feature proposal would be an architectural competition," Hrouda added. He noted that this was the first architectural competition in the city since the revolution.

The proposals were selected by an expert jury together with representatives of the city. The fountain will be built by the team of Ondřej Buš and Eliška Buš. "We are aware that this may become a new symbol of Varnsdorf as such," Ondřej Buš told ČTK. He noted that the team sought to find context in the history of the place. "Here we are at the crossroads between the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany. We searched for the relationship among these countries and their complicated history, and we tried to convey that into the concept and context of the water feature," added the co-author of the winning proposal.

The architects did not want to create an anonymous piece. Therefore, they attempted to reflect that the individual states are not strangers to each other, but rather that it represents a torn friendship. "We wanted to convey the relationships of this place, where the relationships in history were severed at a certain moment. We reflected that in the element, that the shape is also somewhat fragmented, with the idea that it will never reconnect firmly," explained Buš regarding the point of the proposal.

The fountain will be made of bronze, which is more durable and easy to work with. All proposals for the water feature, including the winning one, can be viewed by interested parties until November 15 at the city library.

The repair of the square will cost several tens of millions of crowns. Along with the square itself, the adjacent roadway and the space in front of the office will also be adjusted. At the same time, new public lighting will be installed.