Český Brod: Husovo Square & Arnošta z Pardubic Square

The current situation in both squares is very unfortunate regarding the use of public spaces. Pedestrian movement and leisure use are severely limited by the increasing demands for total car access to all parts of the parterre and the increasing pressure on parking capacity. The result is an uncluttered traffic area with all its undesirable consequences. The proposal restores the two main areas to the function they bear in their name. That is the square. The emphasis is, therefore, on architectural and urban connections and developments, and the current traffic dominance recedes into the background. Despite this, the chosen traffic concept ensures that all residential buildings, businesses, offices, educational facilities, and tourist attractions are still fully accessible.

The jury appreciates a legible, complex and exceptionally well-designed proposal with above-standard graphic communication. It works very well with detail and the materials used. The greatest contribution is found in the generosity of the concept of the designed double square. The design stands out for its convincing spatial integrity and at the same time a very successful synergy of different places of residence with a distinctive character. It particularly appreciates the design of the intimate space in front of St. Gotthard's Church, while preserving the view from King George Street. From the main living space of Arnošt' z Pardubic Square in front of the old town hall, it directs traffic to the perimeter. It creates a real square enlivened by the placement of a new water feature as a spatial counterbalance to the sculpture of the Holy Family and space for the placement of a Christmas tree. The design presents a well thought out traffic solution with the possibility of refinement into a realistic form. The solution is variable with the ability to adapt to current needs. It opts for an efficient arrangement of perpendicular parking spaces around the roads. In order to reinforce the functioning of the parterre and the welcoming use of the pavements, the design works with an embedded tree line around the perimeter of the double square.

One city, two squares, three ideas. The specific layout of the two squares, with a cluster of buildings and the solitary buildings of the church and the old town hall, makes it possible to create differently sized public spaces, each with its specific character. The places thus created create a backdrop for everyday life, shopping, coffee in the garden in front of the café, relaxing in the shade of the park's trees, and larger social events and festivities. The design is based on the historical development of the square, which is combined with the contemporary requirements for public spaces. The most significant historic buildings are emphasized by large-scale granite paving. Each space has its specific character, but together, they form a whole. The duality of the two squares in the historic center is carried over into the design. To the east, in front of the old and new town halls, an open space is created, dominated by stone and paved areas, contrasted by trees and a park with a bosque to the west. The two characters of the area are intertwined to create a multifunctional public space that draws on history and looks to the future. The transport solution aims to design a clear and uncluttered transport system that maintains the square's traffic circulation and creates safe living conditions for all users. At the same time, it emphasizes reducing traffic through the historic center.

The jury considers the proposal to be of very high quality and complexity, especially with an emphasis on the solution of the interconnection of the individual places of residence. The sites themselves are discussed in the form of possible use scenarios, with no emphasis on the detailed design of permanent features and furnishings. The design handles the new central pedestrian zone very well and integrates the entrance area to the square with the area around the bell tower. The proposed bosque is too invasive and prevents visual links to St Gothard's Church. The jury highly appreciates the design of the tree line/alley in the view from the statue of Prokop Holý to the sculpture of the Holy Family. The link between Arnošt' Square and Hus Square will thus become another venue for regular markets or occasional celebrations or pilgrimages, with the possibility of extending to the squares themselves. The proposed traffic solution is realistic and flexible for future changes according to the needs of the city. The extension of the parterre around the houses on the perimeter of the square with the insertion of trees between the pavement space and the perpendicular parking spaces is a pleasant feature. The placement of the trees in the centre of the central pedestrian zone is questionable. The design does not make sufficient use of the potential of the water features and only works with a replicated well.

Český Brod is a town with a strong core and identity. The identity is a mosaic of history, relationships, and the lives of the people who make up the town. In the interconnected "dual town", the unique character of a welcoming and vibrant historic centre, an accessible and serving town, and a growing and developing settlement, develops. The mosaic concept captures the diverse whole of the town and its center, acting differently in detail and holistically on the whole. The square is a mosaic of the life of places, functional landscapes, bound connections, and small stories.

The design is extremely carefully crafted. The jury appreciates the very detailed links to the town centre, including the highlighting of the walls with the historic gate entrances, and the consideration of the wider context. It also commends the treatment of the residential areas. The front area of the former St Mary Magdalene Church and Kouřimská Gate has been conceived very sensitively and offers a quality solution. The area in front of the school is pleasant and consistent. The pedestrian zone also appears to be well designed with trees slightly offset from the central axis and the placement of trees between the parking spaces around the perimeter of the square. The jury also appreciates the location of the terrace under the church and the view from the statue of Prokop Holý towards the sculpture of the Holy Family, which offers space for markets and fairs. The area in front of the town hall, where the parking spaces were located, on the other hand, is significantly lacking in residential qualities. The jury had doubts about the unrealistic number of trees, including the species composition, which fragmented the square and limited its usability. The inappropriate positioning in this respect also applies to the model of the city placed between the four trees. The water features have a somewhat bland form, while the circular flower bed with a circular bench around the sculpture of the Holy Family, on the other hand, appears as a geometrically too distinctive element. Overall, the design works with a large number of elements and materials that generally create the impression of a cluttered space.

Hus Square and Arnošt's Square form the social, cultural, and commercial center of Český Brod. At present, however, the space of these squares is fragmented into many smaller, dysfunctional islands and is overrun by parked cars. We are restoring the double square to its integrity in the competition proposal. At the same time, we respect the subtle differences of each place and create a network of diverse, well-connected public spaces. Great care is also taken to channel parked and passing cars and to encourage pedestrian and cycling movement.

The quality of the design lies in the creation of pleasant living areas. The jury appreciates the spacious connection from King George to the front of St. Gotthard's Church, the character of the area adjacent to the school and the location of the water feature in front of the Town Hall. With regard to the traffic design, the jury appreciates the two-way nature of the section from Suvorov Street to Tyrš Street; however, the location of parking spaces in the design appears random in places. The jury considers the use of herb beds next to the church and in the area below building No. 1 to be unfortunate because of the lack of historical context. The jury also finds the lack of context in the tree grouping around the well, which forms too strong a symbol here. The centre line of the pedestrian zone looks cluttered.

The urban design unites the two squares into one central urban space with several functional parts. This idea is supported by a unified theme in the paving pattern. Motor traffic is relegated to the outer edge of the square, allowing pedestrians maximum freedom of movement while staying within its entire inner area. One of the square's landmarks is house No. 1, the old town hall, in front of which is naturally the main gathering space for markets, festivals, or other social events. The proposal envisages the preservation of the trio of mature lime trees that define the intimate center of gravity of the space. (I) The most striking and oldest landmark is the church of St. Gotthard with its late Gothic bell tower, to which we propose a dignified forecourt complete with a new fountain and a place for erecting a Christmas tree or maypole. (II.) The link between these two spaces is formed by a newly created pedestrian promenade lining the parterre of the meat market, which, by excluding car traffic, becomes an ideal space for leisure time in the front gardens in connection with the active parterre. We propose a representative forecourt for the new town hall and the monument to Procopius the Great, with a residential tree line, which allows, among other things, wedding ceremonies to take place. (III.) Behind the elementary school building is the most intimate part of the whole area, and we propose a sitting area in the shade of the trees. (IV.) We close the gap left by the former brewery with a temporary building serving as a refreshment area, toilets and facilities for a multifunctional playground, or a summer cinema (V.), serving the general public and children from the nearby primary school buildings.

The jury appreciates the effort to integrate the homogeneous spaces of the square in order to create a coherent area, which has already caught the eye in the first round. However, the clear character of the individual residences is lacking in the proposal. The design of the perimeter parking, which is placed in the square area and thus creates a wall between the ground floor and the inner areas of the square, seems inappropriate. The doubling of the tree line supports the sense of separation. The graphic presentation of the project, particularly the paving values, is undeveloped and unconvincing compared to other proposals.