Mariánské square and surroundings – new centre for Komárov

SQUARES CONNECT the fragmented and disparate structures and scales of panel housing estates, the remnants of the historic fabric of Malý Mariacel – Komárov, the monastery, as well as modernist and newly built high-rise landmarks. They heal the scar of heavy traffic flow, transforming it into an urban boulevard. Through this seam, the various building structures are bound together and interwoven within their courtyards. In this way, distinct characters and environments emerge, shaped by flows and movements, moderated by phasing and events. The Ponávská, Jižní, and Mariánská squares thus affirm, initiate, and unite the COURTYARDS OF KOMÁROV.

This proposal is based on a careful analysis of the location and the broader context, taking into account in particular the transformation potential of the South Center and its connection to the area in question. The main ambition is to unify the currently fragmented space using a layered urban structure based on block development, the hierarchization of public space, and clear phasing. An important part of the phasing is the concept of the so-called Point Zero, which allows the local community, associations, and initiatives to be involved in the initial stages of development and content. The jury considers this approach to be inclusive and open to gradual transformation. The design brings a network of public spaces with a diverse atmosphere and scale, emphasizing safe and hierarchical connections between pedestrian, bicycle, public, and individual transport. The authors skillfully integrate the principles of green infrastructure into the design of public spaces. Courtyards play a key role, expanding the public space, connecting to the existing buildings, and forming natural transitions between the old and new structures. The project builds on diversity in social, spatial, architectural, and ecological terms and presents a sustainable long-term vision of development that benefits both the city and its residents. In the event of further refinement, the jury recommends considering the small scale of the houses, which are now shown as part of the regulation. The relocation of the town hall, which was not required in the assignment, is also up for discussion. The jury also recommends examining the connection between the center of Komárov and the Svitava River.

The Komárov district is rediscovering its heart. Mariánské Square becomes a place of encounter, where the paths of people, history, and nature intersect. Water and greenery enter everyday life, streets take on a human scale, and we propose a city of short distances. A district long perceived merely as a transit space is transforming into a home – a cohesive city that lives to the rhythm of its inhabitants.

The jury appreciated that the design presents a clear urbanistic vision and a realistic idea of the transformation of the area. The block structure is of an appropriate scale and fits in well with the geometry of the existing buildings. The emphasis and narrowing of the main street facilitates orientation in the space. The traffic solution is realistic and the landscape elements can be further refined to a high standard. The frequent lack of context in the height of the buildings and the metropolitan character that the proposal brings to the area were evaluated negatively. The jury recommended reducing the intensity and height of the buildings and working more contextually, especially in areas adjacent to lower surrounding buildings. The long rows of houses along the main street should be divided to avoid monotonous lines. In the public space, it is desirable to add other local centers—piazzettas and squares—while retaining and refining the concept of the space near the church in connection with the Zanzara building. The jury considers it necessary to develop a concept for green infrastructure, including rainwater management and spatial connections between the public spaces of Komárov, Ponávka, and both rivers. The transport solution should include an increase in the number of crossings, the addition of bicycle transport, and the widening of road profiles to allow cyclists to pass safely.

Discouraged by the sheer scale of the seventies housing complexes and lead by the new Zanzara square/circle development we do not seek complete restoration of the whole Komárov urban integrity and therefore needed demolitions. We even do not wish to eradicate these earlier layers of urban development, cultural expression and full grown social communities. But since the Svatopetrská street will remain one of the important radials when entering Brno from the south Komárov keeps being divided in an eastern and western part. Fused by the strong desire to unite these two sides we therefore focused on a number of other organising principles.

The design fits in well with the surrounding structure, but less so with the potential of the future city street and boulevard, the eastern side of which has not been resolved convincingly enough. The development is mostly designed schematically and did not convince the jury of the quality of the public spaces it defines. According to the jury, the greatest contribution is the clear vision of connecting the center of Komárov with the Svratka River through a system of parks and public spaces. Among the partial qualities of the design are Mariánské náměstí, which connects well with the surrounding buildings, and the concept of a school square with a new kindergarten. The system of city parks and its connection to the natural surroundings of the Svratka River was evaluated very positively, although its design remained rather schematic. On the contrary, the absence of consideration of the Svitavy millrace as an important axis of the area was criticized. The jury also appreciated the concept of Svatopetrský Boulevard, which combines various modes of transport and reinforces the residential character of the street. Another indisputable benefit is the effective solution for stationary traffic thanks to evenly distributed parking garages. In terms of phasing, the design offers a detailed and realistic approach that is community-friendly, with parking areas and a community center planned for the early stages. The negatives include a less sophisticated system of public spaces, especially in the northern part of the area, and some problematic locations—for example, the block near the supermarket or the location of the parking garage at the intersection. The proposal also does not reflect the planned reduction in traffic after the construction of the VMO and leaves the existing profile of Černovická Street unchanged, thus failing to bring new qualities to the area. Cycling is addressed only marginally. A beneficial aspect is the designation of areas where vegetation and rainwater can be systematically managed, which significantly increases the ecological quality of the site. In the event of further refinement, the jury recommends modifying the block structure so that its scale and layout create a high-quality new urban structure that will create pleasant private and public spaces. The solution for the area east of Svatopetrská Boulevard should be finalized. In the transport solution, all street profiles and connections should better reflect the possible reduction in traffic load and become more pedestrian-friendly. Within the area under consideration, the competitors should finalize their ideas for the modification of the Svitavský náhon canal.

The demolition of the old village of Komárov has left a large void dominated by infrastructure that keeps the city's remaining areas at a distance. This context poses challenges common to many European cities today, such as regenerating the outermost areas and integrating them into the urban and social fabric; transforming neighbourhoods that currently lack spatial quality, despite having played an important role in the past by providing housing for an ever-growing population. Solving conflicts between open spaces, infrastructure, and residential areas, while creating inclusive public spaces are key challenges. The large amount of publicly owned open space provides an opportunity to completely rethink the city's ground level with the aim of reconnecting currently distant parts of the city, promoting cycle and pedestrian connections between existing activities and services in the area, introducing new environmental and landscape qualities, and reinforcing historical elements. The design proposal entrusts a new diversified and interconnected network of open spaces with the task of guiding the urban and environmental regeneration process of the Komárov district. The project proposes a new structure for public space that recovers the value of proximity and strengthens the links of pedestrian continuity between the different parts of the neighbourhood. The new design revives, in a contemporary form, the memory of the old village of Komárov criss-crossed by rivers and canals and traversed by the ancient Svatopetrská.

The jury found that the spatial scale of the development and public spaces is oversized in the plan, and the effort to achieve clarity and simplicity has resulted in a monotonous image of a modernist city. The dominant boulevard ending in a large square, interrupted by a traffic artery, does not create a quality environment for new residents. Furthermore, the low number of floors and undersized residential facilities do not balance the extensive public spaces and buildings, which could lead to the public space becoming empty and unused at certain times of the day. From a traffic perspective, it is unrealistic to consider narrowing Černovická Street, although the jury considers the extension of its axis to be an interesting idea. It also appreciates the gesture of working with water channels, which, however, is rather formal in the end. Overall, the design appears clean and balanced at first glance, but it lacks a sensitive integration into the context of a 21st-century city and greater diversity in public space. The respectful approach to the requirements of the local community, which emphasizes the importance of greenery and smaller-scale development, is viewed positively.

A green backbone from the bustling center to the calm recreational periphery. The park is the unifying element, blurring the boundaries between different parts of the territory. We are creating a natural supporting structure onto which other functions and layers gradually accumulate. In their mutual synergy, a whole emerges that gives Komárov a clear identity. We choose a systematic approach to greenery. We set up a strategy that is independent of future intentions within the addressed and adjacent areas. We review existing trees and add new plantings in locations already designated for development. We don’t have to wait for the evolution of architecture or urbanism as a whole. We start now. Everything else will take place in the future against the backdrop of mature trees.

This design did not convince the jury that it would bring demonstrable quality to the area. On the contrary, it confirms the current unsatisfactory traffic situation and does not improve the environment for pedestrians in any way. The idea of a "park accessible in one step" is perceived more as a formal gesture than a real contribution. The structure of the development appears random and does not provide clear landmarks. In addition, the proposal addresses the main pedestrian crossing with an overhead footbridge, which is considered unsatisfactory in the context of the contemporary understanding of urban public space.