Year after the demolition of Štvanice, Prague will announce a competition for the restoration of the island

Prague - In the coming days, Prague will announce an architectural competition for the renovation of Štvanice Island, from where the legendary winter stadium disappeared a year ago. The committee will include experts from the Czech Chamber of Architects (ČKA), said councilor Aleksandra Udženija (ODS) to ČTK. Architects welcome Prague's approach. The public will see the first proposals in the fall. The city wants to invest 450 to 650 million crowns into the transformation of the island.
    "The capital city hasn't held a public ideational competition in a long time," the councilor stated. "Although it will extend the timeline for implementation, the professional community welcomes it," she added. According to Markéta Pražanová from ČKA, similar architectural competitions are effective and transparent. Qualified and independent jurors select from dozens of diverse proposals. This results in high-quality buildings. "This type of competition brings specific solutions to construction, not just a project price offer, as is usually the case with other types of contract assignments," Pražanová said in response to ČTK's inquiry.
    Before the final form of Štvanice is decided, the city plans to transform the island so that Prague residents can use it for recreation and leisure. On the green space where a temporary ice rink was set up in winter, a picnic area for families with children and grilling spots will be created starting in June. Refreshments will be available, and both children and professional athletes will be able to exercise on a cycling track.
    The listed winter stadium had been deteriorating for several years, and at the beginning of last year, the roof collapsed. It was subsequently closed and demolished in May. The demolition sparked strong criticism. The public disagreed, and the National Heritage Institute also opposed it. The city leadership then decided to renovate the island themselves. At the end of last year, they therefore terminated the lease with the tenant, Meridianspa.
    The stadium operated for nearly 80 years. It hosted the Ice Hockey World Championships four times. Czechoslovak hockey players won their first gold there in 1947. Several generations of hockey players and figure skaters "grew up" on this ice surface, including the famous figure skater Ája Vrzáňová, who also trained here. The last major renovation of the stadium took place in 1968.