Walk through Liberec along the Jizera River
Our walk aimed to explore the non-existent path through the city along the existing covered Jizerský creek. We were searching together with the citizens for a new dimension of pedestrian movement in Liberec, which had been utilized in the past but has now disappeared under the layers of private interests.
We gathered at a small square by the Nisa River in the center of the city, at the point where the Harcovský creek flows into the Nisa. From there, we took Tram T3 to the Lidové Sady towards the places where the Jizerský creek springs. At the site of the zoo, we saw the creek for the first time, and until the end of the walk, it would also be the last. Along the way through the city, beside the canals where our creek babbled, we discussed these topics with citizens through images from history and our simple proposals:
Maintenance of the wealth that remains here.
An example was provided by the park behind the zoo, established and managed by the Friends of Nature Society and the Mountain Society. Parks in this part of the city were mostly created at the request of the municipality, which bought land from private owners and handed it over to societies for realization through an architectural competition. Societies were also responsible for the upkeep of these parks. Many of these societies were made up of volunteers. Without maintenance, the forest park became a wilderness, and there is a prepared revitalization project for it to become a forest park with European participation.
Areas that have "formed" and will likely remain empty for a long time.
The canals of the covered creek stick out from the tall grass. Today, overgrown meadows created by the demolition of buildings at the Liberec exhibition grounds. The lands are mostly private and are waiting for fulfillment by developers. We believe these areas are important for the expansion of a vibrant urban life. While the lands lie fallow, a few small interventions could be realized. This would create a park that is practically non-existent in the city. It would be enough to preserve the poetry of the remainder, awaken joy in neglect, and reveal a part of the creek or flood the area with a small pond. Here we showcased conceptual proposals on how these areas could look using simple small interventions.
Local centers along the creek.
Deliberately established small centers that we saw more of along the creek. The best example was the small square at the Botanical-Zoo stop. It consists of the U Jezírka Hotel with its beer garden, the entrance to the zoo, the dike of the pond, and the essential kiosk. The water and dam give this square a poetic character.
Houses on the water.
Many houses along the Jizerský creek directly involved water. Spas used it directly, the villas of factory owners' wives had boats in their gardens just like the owners of Palladio villas, zoo pavilions drew water for the animals, and restaurants and cafés still use water for pleasant seating. At the beginning of our journey, we saw a completely inappropriate impact of standards on a new house by the Nisa.
A new movement through the city along the Jizerský creek.
The creek aptly flows through a morphologically complex city. In Liberec, it is common to walk like a camel, going up and down. By utilizing the renewed path along the Jizerský creek, we could quickly and evenly get from the center of the city around important institutions all the way to the Jizera Mountains.
Walking would be better, faster, more comfortable, simply less sweaty.
Although for us, the path through the city along the creek with its connections to the city was more important, the presence of water would certainly help this movement. As it stands, we were left looking through the lids of the canals from which the sound of our creek's splashing flowed and glowing sensors we installed there.
Liberec was a city of water. Today it is a city of canals, in which sewers flow. While underground canals are an enticing attraction, above-ground life is more joyful for us. Therefore, the last image is a theme for a new city logo, at least until things change.
We will continue to fight for the accessibility of the creek and the creation of a path!
Architecture Day is organized by the civic association Kruh, which has been promoting architecture since 2001.
We gathered at a small square by the Nisa River in the center of the city, at the point where the Harcovský creek flows into the Nisa. From there, we took Tram T3 to the Lidové Sady towards the places where the Jizerský creek springs. At the site of the zoo, we saw the creek for the first time, and until the end of the walk, it would also be the last. Along the way through the city, beside the canals where our creek babbled, we discussed these topics with citizens through images from history and our simple proposals:
Maintenance of the wealth that remains here.
An example was provided by the park behind the zoo, established and managed by the Friends of Nature Society and the Mountain Society. Parks in this part of the city were mostly created at the request of the municipality, which bought land from private owners and handed it over to societies for realization through an architectural competition. Societies were also responsible for the upkeep of these parks. Many of these societies were made up of volunteers. Without maintenance, the forest park became a wilderness, and there is a prepared revitalization project for it to become a forest park with European participation.
Areas that have "formed" and will likely remain empty for a long time.
The canals of the covered creek stick out from the tall grass. Today, overgrown meadows created by the demolition of buildings at the Liberec exhibition grounds. The lands are mostly private and are waiting for fulfillment by developers. We believe these areas are important for the expansion of a vibrant urban life. While the lands lie fallow, a few small interventions could be realized. This would create a park that is practically non-existent in the city. It would be enough to preserve the poetry of the remainder, awaken joy in neglect, and reveal a part of the creek or flood the area with a small pond. Here we showcased conceptual proposals on how these areas could look using simple small interventions.
Local centers along the creek.
Deliberately established small centers that we saw more of along the creek. The best example was the small square at the Botanical-Zoo stop. It consists of the U Jezírka Hotel with its beer garden, the entrance to the zoo, the dike of the pond, and the essential kiosk. The water and dam give this square a poetic character.
Houses on the water.
Many houses along the Jizerský creek directly involved water. Spas used it directly, the villas of factory owners' wives had boats in their gardens just like the owners of Palladio villas, zoo pavilions drew water for the animals, and restaurants and cafés still use water for pleasant seating. At the beginning of our journey, we saw a completely inappropriate impact of standards on a new house by the Nisa.
A new movement through the city along the Jizerský creek.
The creek aptly flows through a morphologically complex city. In Liberec, it is common to walk like a camel, going up and down. By utilizing the renewed path along the Jizerský creek, we could quickly and evenly get from the center of the city around important institutions all the way to the Jizera Mountains.
Walking would be better, faster, more comfortable, simply less sweaty.
Although for us, the path through the city along the creek with its connections to the city was more important, the presence of water would certainly help this movement. As it stands, we were left looking through the lids of the canals from which the sound of our creek's splashing flowed and glowing sensors we installed there.
Liberec was a city of water. Today it is a city of canals, in which sewers flow. While underground canals are an enticing attraction, above-ground life is more joyful for us. Therefore, the last image is a theme for a new city logo, at least until things change.
We will continue to fight for the accessibility of the creek and the creation of a path!
Architecture Day is organized by the civic association Kruh, which has been promoting architecture since 2001.
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