An international two-round landscape, urban, and architectural design competition "Lake Milada" was announced, seeking multidisciplinary teams to design a concept plan for the area of a formal lignite mine near the North Bohemian city of Ústí nad Labem in the Czech Republic.
Teams including landscape architects, urban planners, architects and other experts can submit their application for participation in the competition. As part of the application, a portfolio of reference works shall be submitted. The deadline for application is 31 July 2020. Based on the portfolio of reference works a jury will select 6 teams to be invited to take part in the 1st round of the competition, deadline 30 November 2020. It is anticipated that 3 teams will continue to the 2nd round. Prizes and remuneration will total 3 875 000 CZK (approx. 145 000 EUR). Entries in both competition rounds will be anonymous.
The competition site comprises of former Chabařovice surface lignite mine which was decommissioned in 1990s. The lake and surrounding landscape is the result of a mine reclamation project. The site spreads across four municipalities, however majority of the area is in state ownership administered by Palivový kombinát Ústí (PKÚ), which is the competition contracting authority.
“The aim of the competition is to find a team that will present a strategy for the area’s development that is both economically viable and environmentally sustainable. The PKÚ state enterprise is looking for a partner to help them and other area stakeholders to form the long-term vision and to guide them in its implementation,” explains Petr Návrat from ONplan, the planning consultancy that organizes the competition. Lake Milada is part of a future lake region stretching from the city of Chomutov to Ústí nad Labem.
Historically, the Ústí nad Labem region has undergone numerous rapid changes. After the establishment of extensive surface mines in the middle of 20th century, the naturally fertile, densely populated agricultural landscape effectively ceased to exist. Many villages were abandoned, which severed landscape linkages, as well as the ties of former inhabitants to the area.
The Chabařovice Mine reclamation came to an end in 2015 when the lake and its surroundings were opened to the public. Thanks to high water quality and peaceful natural surroundings, Lake Milada became a popular destination for locals offering opportunities for swimming, water sports, in-line skating and cycling. Yet, the site is missing basic facilities for recreational use, transportation linkages are inadequate, and the area is not sufficiently connected to its context.
The competition entries shall propose a spatial organization of the site, improve the accessibility of the site, enhance conditions and facilities for recreational use of the area while emphasizing the story of the place and preserving its environmental values. Part of the site is considered to be developed for residential use.
Title
Open Call: Lake Milada Landscape in Northern Bohemia, Czech RepublicType
Competition Announcement (Built Projects & Masterplans)Website
Organizers
Registration Deadline
July 31, 2020 12:00 AMSubmission Deadline
November 30, 2020 05:00 PMVenue
Lake Milada, Ústí nad Labem, Czech RepublicPrice
Free