The design of the railway bridge, according to the Club for Old Prague, does not reflect the significance of the site

Prague - The design of the new railway bridge in Prague under Vyšehrad is, according to representatives of the Club for Old Prague, unsuccessful given the significance and historical context of the place. In the commission that chose the proposal, they voted for a different project. They believe that the original structure of the bridge should be preserved. The club stated this in a letter addressed to the relevant institutions, which is available to ČTK. The proposal for the new bridge between Výtoní and Smíchov has sparked discussions among experts and the public. According to the Club for Old Prague, the best way to obtain the best proposal would be through an international architectural competition, not a competitive dialogue.

The preservation of the bridge from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries has been a long-standing topic of discussion in Prague, with various proposals emerging to address the poor state of the structure. The competition was announced by the Railway Administration last May, and representatives from the administration, the Prague City Hall, conservationists, experts, and members of the aforementioned club served on the selection committee. A key condition for the new solution of the bridge was to expand from two to three tracks. The committee selected a new build, according to the proposal from the company 2T engineering, only the lower part of the structure with the pillars is to be preserved.

According to the committee, the selected proposal best addresses the movement of trains, pedestrians, and cyclists. A friendlier environment for cyclists compared to the current bridge has also been welcomed by some critics of the new proposal. Part of the conditions of the competition included the preservation of the original monumentally protected structure. According to the outcome, it is to be removed and used elsewhere.

The Club for Old Prague reminded that the proceedings of the committee were part of a competitive dialogue conducted in two rounds, which was not a competition according to the conditions of the Czech Chamber of Architects. "It was a dialogue for the selection of the contractor of further documentation according to the principles and conditions of the client. The competitive dialogue was conducted in accordance with the law on public procurement," stated the club.

"We remain convinced that the priority must be the preservation of the valuable monumentally protected bridge with the possibility of adding another new independent structure," stated the club. In an extreme case where the preservation of the original iron riveted structure would not be objectively possible, according to its representatives, it is necessary to announce a public international architectural competition for the new bridge, which is the best tool to obtain a quality architectural design. Even in such a case, however, the Club would insist on the preservation of the tolerated structures and their use in another appropriate location.

The current proposal is also disliked by the initiative Save the Railway Bridge, which was established four years ago out of concern for the bridge's demolition. "The winning design of the bridge will severely disrupt the skyline of Prague as we know it," they stated on Facebook. On social networks, architecture theorist and promoter Adam Gebrian rated the proposal as a bad joke.

Architect Josef Pleskot, who has several experiences with footbridges and bridges through his studio, stated to ČTK that the winning design of the bridge at Výtoní is according to him a product of social, professional, and therefore political disagreement.

Among the competition entries were several works from architectural studios that proposed the preservation and reconstruction of the existing bridge and the addition of a new single-track bridge with a footbridge for pedestrians and cyclists. The winning company 2T engineering was established in 2010 and specializes in design in construction as well as supplying medical technology and interiors.