The new pedestrian zone will change the established views of historical Cheb

Cheb - The official addition of the commemorative plaque today marked the completion of the main part of the reconstruction of the pedestrian zone in Cheb. The modern boulevard, carefully designed by architects, costing over 130 million, begins above the historic square of King George of Podebrady with a massive metal monolith, the Gate of Time, which symbolically separates the modern pedestrian zone from the medieval part of the town. It seems that the Gate of Time will remain a topic of contention for a long time, as was expressed today at the festive opening of the pedestrian zone.
    The study based on which the pedestrian zone was transformed was prepared ten years ago by the Cheb architectural studio A 69. Using different types of paving and various placements of trees, the architects created a boulevard with two small squares, which serve as crossroads of activity in the pedestrian zone.
    The furniture is complemented by unconventional lamps and modern LED lighting and information pillars, on which both textual information and graphic animations can be displayed.
    The entire pedestrian zone is also enhanced by a timeline in the pavement, which records important events over 950 years of the city's existence. The timeline begins at the rotating nine-meter artifact, the Gate of Time.
    According to the author of the Gate of Time, Marian Karl, it is good that it is a topic of much discussion among the city's residents. "Every artist is pleased when their work is talked about, whether it is criticized or praised. Every new thing has not had it easy," he told ČTK today.
    Deputy Mayor Michal Pospíšil said today that the Cheb pedestrian zone may appear surprisingly different from what people are used to in nearby German cities, which have tended towards a pseudo-historic appearance for their pedestrian zones.
    However, Mayor Jan Svoboda is mainly satisfied that such a costly investment was financially secured and completed at all. "The thoughts began 12 years ago. Then a study was created, which had two options, a cheaper one for 60 million, which we would have done from our own resources, or a more expensive one for 136 million. We then received 118 million from the European Union for the latter, so the waiting paid off," said Svoboda.
    The reconstruction of the pedestrian zone will continue with a third phase, but this will only concern the adjacent streets and will conclude this autumn. According to Svoboda, the continuation of the natural boulevard from Evropská street towards the station will be a task for future councils or the next generation.