Participants in the Skanska Bridging Prague competition were asked to develop a new Vision Plan for the section of the riverfront from Libeňsk (Bridge) to the north to Železniční (Railway Bridge) in Smíchov to the south. The goal was to create a unified experience, linking cultural, recreational, ecological, historical and economic opportunities. They were also asked to design an intervention that will become a premiere destination along the river Vltava. The first prize winning proposal by Pete North focuses on strengthening the natural characteristics of places at the riverside, where it is consistent and feasible. It aims to create a synergy between park localities and the river, connected into a consequent chain of continuous spaces. More images and winning proposals after the break.
1st prize: Peter North
The design builds almost nothing new, but tries to make the relaxing character of the riverfront stronger – and to cope with future floods in a more natural way. The Negrelli viaduct is turned into a parallel of the New York Highline and there is a proposal of a connection between Stromovka Park and the Exhibition grounds – by a modification of the former train station at Prague – Bubny. The Štvanice Island is an unbuilt oasis in the middle of the city.
2nd prize: Juras Lasovsky, Koen Hezemans
A counterpart to theoretical visions, an idea of ships with a practical function, run by local communities. Together, they can help not only with a physical change to the locality, but also with its revival in the form of cultural events.
3rd prize: Martin Špičák, Nikola Dočekal, Jiří Deyl
The design exhibits an excellent knowledge of the environment and proposes a set of small, almost invisible interventions that could have a significant impact, though. This is an example of best “urban acupuncture”. It assumes that the riverfront and its closest surrounding are beautiful and rich enough, that it is sufficient just to reinforce its character with just small accommodations. The jury appreciates the sensitivity and poetry of those interventions.
Honorable Mentions: Ivan Boroš, Juraj Calaj, Lenka Míková, Vítězslav Danda & Eduard Seibert
The honorable mentions were given to two projects that have not proposed a complex solution for the river and its integration into the city, but were focused on a strong and clear message.
Author of winning proposal summaries: Adam Gebrian
