Železný Brod announced a competition for the transformation of the historic Malé náměstí

Photo: zeleznybrod.cz

Železný Brod (Jablonecko) - Železný Brod has announced a public architectural-urban competition for the design of the Small Square adjacent to the City Heritage Reserve Trávníky. The so-called Rynek is the center of the historical part of the city, but today it is just an intersection with a parking lot that the city hall wants to cultivate. The mayor, André Jakubička, informed the press about this today. The municipality wants to obtain a grant for the renovation of the square, or it will finance it in stages from its own budget.
    Organizing architectural competitions is not common in cities the size of Železný Brod, where 6,500 residents live. Even the hundred-thousand Liberec does not do them. "Although it is more expensive and time-consuming than a regular competition, we have decided to take this path because we believe that we will obtain a higher quality solution," explained the mayor. The competition is two-tiered, with the deadline for the first round on January 3rd, after which the jury will select three to five of the best proposals for more detailed processing. The best proposal will be rewarded by the municipality with 110,000 CZK, the second-place proposal will receive 70,000 crowns, and the third will receive 50,000.
    Železný Brod has a central square called May 3rd just a few steps away from the Rynek. It is home to the town hall and other important buildings, but it is cut through by the road I/10 from Turnov to Harrachov and the intersection with the road to Semily. "There is nothing we can do with this square, so we decided to renovate the Small Square," said the mayor. He was unable to estimate how much the reconstruction would cost, as it will depend on the competition. "But it is our priority," he added.
    The Small Square is located in the city center on the right bank of the Jizera River at the confluence with the stream Žernovník. Dominating the place is the Church of St. James the Greater with the tower of a wooden belfry. The square joins the heritage zone Trávníky, whose half-timbered houses from the second half of the 18th century are among the architectural gems of the Upper Pojizeří. According to city architect Zdeněk Jiran, the Rynek must remain passable for cars, with a bus stop and a few parking spaces. Heritage conservationists want paving stones instead of asphalt, which historically belongs here.
    The project should also include a footbridge over the Jizera River, which will connect the Small Square with the opposite bank and link the city center with the bus station and housing estates on the other side. Across the water stands the former premises of the Exatherm company, which the city purchased last year for 7.25 million crowns. The city hall would also like to have a study prepared for this area and has entered the building into the competition for the Petr Parléř Award. In the selection process, the city will compete for the award against Sokolov, Valašské Meziříčí, Valašské Klobouky, Vizovice, and Vodňany. If the money is not obtained, the municipality will likely organize the competition itself, but only in the coming years, Jakubička added.