TOP 09 wants to revitalize the riverbanks in Brno with students

Brno - Students of the Faculty of Architecture at VUT will have the opportunity from TOP 09 to propose how to revitalize the riverbanks in Brno. This was stated to reporters today by the councilor of the Brno-Černovice district, Ladislav Kotík (TOP 09), who has been organizing a festival called "Let's Cross the River" with theater and activities to revive the Svitava riverbank for three years. Students are to design by summer how to enliven the space by the Svitava between Křenová and Olomoucká streets. According to architect Michal Palaščák, there could be houses by the river with cafés and a promenade. In addition to the Svitava, the Svratka and Ponava rivers also flow through Brno.

Palaščák has been at VUT for the second year. According to him, the city is detached from the rivers. Therefore, students will be addressing the revitalization of the space around them as part of their bachelor's theses.

"The goal of the task is to build houses by the river, which are missing in Brno. It should be such that a person steps out of the house and is by the river; there will be a promenade, a café, and living space above it. Suddenly both the river and the city will come to life. That is what I miss in Brno," said Palaščák. The area between Křenová and Olomoucká streets is located in the Brno-střed district right next to Černovice.

According to Palaščák, the city council of Brno-střed is aware of the students' activities. Following the results, negotiations could begin with the district and the city about specific forms of changes. "Everyone will welcome such an activity. The aim is to find the best solution for the given locality," noted the architect.

Construction by watercourses is not easy due to possible floods, he added. However, he believes that the houses could also serve as flood barriers. Palaščák sees great potential in collaboration between the city and the school; moreover, it is necessary to coordinate the districts located by the water. The city is already working on several projects for the revitalization of the Svratka riverbank, where promenades are to be created.

"The Svratka is finally being addressed, and the Svitava is like a poor relative. In May or June, we should have results from the students, and we would like to present them to the public," added Jindřich Cinka, a member of the Brno TOP 09. Houses on public land could then be built by the city or a private investor.

"We selected the land in such a way that it would be as feasible as possible. There is still a hunger for land in the city center, and therefore it is good to approach densifying construction in locations with great potential," added Palaščák.