Prague will select a designer for the modifications of the park at Karlovo náměstí

Prague - Prague will start selecting a designer for the modifications to the protected park at Karlovo náměstí. The Prague councilors today tasked the Municipal Institute of Planning and Development (IPR) to initiate the selection process in the form of a so-called competitive dialogue. The competition will last approximately nine months, with a winner potentially being chosen in less than a year.

The estimated value of the contract is 22.5 million crowns. The total restoration of the park at Karlovo náměstí is expected to cost between 200 and 300 million crowns. "We can't say for sure right now, as it will only become clear during the competitive dialogue what all will be included," stated the councilor for infrastructure Jana Plamínková (STAN/Trojkoalice).

The city began preparing the competition at the beginning of this year. "The preparation of the tender was relatively lengthy, because we chose an unusual form of competitive dialogue," Plamínková added.

The competitive dialogue means that participants in the tender process and other interested organizations will have the opportunity to contribute to the shape of the project through ongoing discussions. According to the IPR, this is the most suitable selection method for projects that involve a large number of owners and institutions, as it allows for finding a compromise that satisfies all parties. The competition will also include three workshops where participants will have the chance to present their previous work in a joint discussion.

Disputes regarding the restoration exist between Prague 2 and the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ). While the municipal district would prefer to pave the square, the heritage officials from NPÚ insist on preserving the existing form of the park, which was designed by landscape architect František Josef Thomayer in the 19th century.

The square has been partially modified in previous years. This included last year's reconstruction of the tram line and adjacent sidewalks. This was followed by the repair of intersections and crossings. According to the IPR's study on the park's modifications, muddy worn paths should disappear and be replaced by a better-conceived network of sidewalks, additional seating areas, and space for picnics or farmers' markets.

The park was last modified in 1998, around New Town Hall. Environmentalists and residents of Prague 2 protested against extensive tree felling at that time. In 2008, the municipal office organized an architectural competition, from which it selected a winning design, but this was opposed by heritage officials. Two years later, representatives of the municipal office and the magistrate signed a memorandum committing to a joint approach regarding the restoration of the square.

Karlovo náměstí, formerly known as Dobytčí trh, is the largest square in Prague. It measures 510 meters in length and 130 meters in width, with a total area of over 80,550 square meters. In the center of the square stood a circular chapel of the Holy Body from 1300, where the imperial coronation jewels were displayed, which was demolished in 1791.