Next week, an exhibition of proposals for the modifications of Karlovo Square will open

Prague - Already during Christmas, both Prague residents and visitors to the metropolis will be able to view an exhibition of proposals for the modifications of Karlovo náměstí. The exhibition will open the day before Christmas Eve and will end on February 1 of the following year. It will then continue at Náměstí Míru in the building of the Prague 2 municipal office, which announced the conceptual competition for the urban-architectural solution of the largest square in Central Europe in June. The information was provided to journalists today by the representative of the mayor of Prague 2, Václav Vondrášek (ODS).
    "It is a park designed by František Thomayer at the end of the 19th century. At that time there was no metro, no trams. It was designed as a so-called promenade park; today it has a completely different function - partly recreational and partly thoroughfare. It no longer meets today's needs," said Vondrášek.
    A total of 22 proposals were submitted for the conceptual competition, which, according to the city hall, showed a variety of directions in which the development of Karlovo náměstí could head. "At one point, reconstruction of the square started; however, it was not well mediatized and sufficiently discussed with the public, which led to many protests against that beginning, primarily regarding the felling of trees in the northern area by the town hall," explained Vondrášek.
    The jury therefore evaluated the proposals not only based on whether they could subsequently be implemented in a public contract, but primarily based on how they could contribute to the broadest possible discussion on this topic.
    No proposal won the first prize; thus, the increased financial reward went to the proposal by architects Vladimír Štulce, Jan Vrana, and Kryštof Štulce in second place and the concept by architects Martin Klejna, Michal Šmolík, Radek Zykan, and Zuzana Kotlářová, which came in third. Awards for partial ideas were given to an additional five proposals.
    The city hall previously stated that it is considering building underground garages, but the park should remain untouched. The underground parking is to be located in the area of the former Jesuit college, in front of the Church of St. Ignatius.
    Karlovo náměstí covers an area of 80,550 square meters. Since the 15th century, it has served as a cattle market for all of Prague. In 1419, the Hussites threw councilors from the windows of the New Town Hall. On the southern side of the square stands the originally Renaissance, now Baroque Faust's house, where the alchemist Edward Kelley lived during the reign of Emperor Rudolf II.