Revitalization of the Jandus Brothers Square in Uhříněves

One square - three different characters. The historical center of Uhříněves is naturally divided into three parts by the Říčanka stream; we develop them in the design with conceptual, material and landscape solutions. Emphasis is placed on calming traffic, strengthening pedestrian links, composition of use, the relationship between historical and new and landscaping accompanied by blue-green infrastructure. The central public space in front of the school and the church is expanded by changing the tracing of Přátelství Street. The dominant feature is the statue of St. Jan Nepomucký in the focus of compositional views The central space is connected to a quiet place by a stream under the treetops, which is newly involved in the organism of the square. The last part is a landscaped playground.

We considered the design to be one of the favorites from the very beginning. Extraordinary, and what distinguishes it from all the others, is the clear and legible layout of the solved area into three understandable units. This alone makes working with the territory much more effortless. The proposal then sets out the rules for defining the character of each of these spaces separately. The moderate design then creates a scheme that we consider unambiguous, convincing, flexible, straightforward. The proposal envisages a moderate retracing of Přátelství Street; the resulting solution expands the space in front of the school and church and shrinks the Kormak building area. The dimension of parking capacities and K + R parking is entirely in line with the city district's idea. The benefit for pedestrians is the underpass under Přátelství Street around Říčanský brook. Also positive is the dominant play element for children outside the southern part of the area; the design leaves it somewhat calmer at residents' request. Another solution is to locate two traffic crossings, which may not be allowed. The objections of the Environment Department can quickly be settled within this proposal. Due to the solution concept, it is possible to work very well with the city district's requirement to return mature trees to the design. Most of the green areas in the design are removed from the competition site. The specific solution of surfaces builds on the particular functions of individual parts. Mostly paving. The amount of proposed greenery is adequate; the design works very realistically with water. The blue-green infrastructure is solved very realistically (not only ostensibly). The place looks like a square at first sight. Of all the proposals, this one is closest to the district's requirement for what a classic square should look like in the general sense of the word. It is also appropriate to relocate John of Nepomuk's statue to a dignified place in front of the church. Thus, the ample space in front of the school for children's socializing or cultural events acquires even more importance. Due to traffic intensity, the relationship of the place to the busy road remains a question.

We sought a balance between the old and the new and carefully chose the scale of interventions to best capture and support the undoubted but still specific quality of individual places in the area. The design thus carries proven archetypal motifs, which we use to anchor and calm the whole situation, but also current details guaranteeing the protection of existing greenery and the fulfillment of modern requirements for the use of public space. We believe that thanks to our understanding of the historical composition of the Church of All Saints, we received the key to finding space for the basic attributes of the square. We appreciate the ambition of the management of the city district and its inhabitants to revitalize the public space and subsequently take care of it. The intensity and desire to use it is undoubtedly linked to its quality, but also to the responsibility shown. We thus perceive the announcement of the competition as a step in the right direction.

At first glance, a very inconspicuous design. Only at the "second look" will we begin to appreciate it as one of the most cultivated and sophisticated. It is elaborated with great care, even in detail. The future vision of the solved area in its presentation looks very natural. Without the need for radical changes in the territory, using a minimum of expression means, a park and a square are very clearly created here. This very pleasantly conservative proposal does not suggest unnecessary things that do not belong here. In front of the school, the design works quite well with space and complements it with various elements. Two objects complement the design of the square (cube and peephole). It is a robust and clean design, which refers to the square's existing spatial and functional division in many ways. Of all the proposals, this one dealt best with parking capacities for residents and K + R, which is solved separately in front of the school building. The absence of radical interventions, on the other hand, has the consequence that the proposal seems as if without concept, indefinite. The detail of the grate below the trees relies on the sophistication of users. There are too many continuous green areas in the design. The restraint in reducing the greenery in front of the old town hall building could also be criticized when the area then looks more like a park, not a square.

Like the Jandus Brothers, two banks, two characters, stand side by side. Older "school" with a church and a castle and a younger "mill" bank. They are connected by the banks of the stream with their bridges. The Uhříněves historical core, created on the Říčanský brook, thus creates many characters combined into one whole with its nooks and crannies. A set of many functions, stories of the past, today, and tomorrow in the spirit of the core of Uhříněves concerning future challenges.

The design is based on a powerful story when planning the area. We consider the connection of the solution to this support to be the most significant advantage. We believe the story connected with the place to be very easy to grasp, even for the general public. This concept prioritizes the square and the church's apparent dominance, creates opportunities to use the entire complicated area of ​​the area, and limits its dead spaces. The design interestingly opens up the public space from the church stairs. The right solution was chosen in the southern part of the square, which should be more intimate. Parking for residents works well, but on the contrary, there is no K + R in front of the school. The change and communication line raises concerns that it will become a "plug" in the territory. The road route is closer to the Kormak building, which is correct, as this building will have no active ground floor. This increases the space in front of the school building. The approach to the Říčanský stream is quite decent. As a result, the square looks more like an awkward park with odd shapes and materials. From a practical point of view, the proposal is not entirely satisfactory; it seems thoughtless from the point of view of future development. Working with trees would require substantial reworking - there are too many of them, but from the point of view of the landscape concept they do not bring much.