New Tepna - Stratified Centre of Náchod

Among challenges rising in the area of residential development, there are two that appear particularly urgent: one is climate adaptability, and the other is social cohesion. The main idea of this proposal is, therefore, to create a comfortable, inclusive, restorative living environment that would inscribe into the existing urban and cultural context and that would go hand in hand with the idea of “hedonistic sustainability,” creating an attractive, enjoyable living environment. This idea is mirrored on all levels and scales. A network of public spaces was created in urban design layout, enhancing connectivity between attractive public functions and highlighting main physical dominants. Those axes would be primarily pedestrian. Functionally, attractors and anchors were used to creating different ambiances of the publicly available spaces so as to answer the needs of all the user groups. The housing structure is differentiated to ensure social mix and inclusion. Circularity and sustainability of solutions are of great importance. New constructions are interwoven with green and blue infrastructure, which is present at every scale. From urban wetlands, natural swimming pond and fountains in the public realm to green roofs and greenhouses, to urban algae plantations, water and greenery are present everywhere, ensuring the environment enhances biodiversity and proper microclimate. Secondary, recycled materials and energy saving solutions such as sharing amenities, food sharing, repair cafes should be introduced.

The proposal deserves first place in all respects, because its authors best understood the relations in the territory and solved their addition by a new layer. The establishment of two axes, which start from the proposed square near Tepna, logically and clearly divides the area into urban blocks. The fundamental phenomenon of these axes is that they lead somewhere, that they have a beginning and an end in places of other inserted meanings. The axis from the historic core, which is formed into a pleasant soft curve and opens into the new square near Tepna, offers a beautiful view of the castle tower and on the other side of the industrial buildings with a massive chimney. The northern connection leads to a smaller community square, from where there is a connection to the main street and buildings under the castle. The secondary dividing street is also not located by chance and visually connects to the core of the newly established park on one side and a high chimney on the other. The new park complements the massif of mature greenery under the castle and enhances its impression. The plan is simple and clear, largely respects the existing buildings and property conditions in the place. Individual building blocks can be gradually filled in time and it is not necessary to build them as a whole at once. This is absolutely decisive for further consideration of how to improve this neglected place in the immediate vicinity of the center. The plan contains a clear system of centers, defines the field of spatial effect of the urban atmosphere and works with thoughtful gradation. In a more detailed elaboration, we recommend considering the connection to the park, because its more precise delimitation by buildings could further enhance its spatial quality and at the same time offer the best plots with a view of the park and the castle at the same time. A significant element of the design is working with water. Although the degree of landscape conception of the northwestern design sector is surprisingly high (due to the already existing phenomenon of Regnerovy sady), this concept works well in contrast to the compact urban structure of the rest of the design. The design is good for the image of the city, its graininess and picturesqueness, as well as for the existing and supplemented landmarks. A clear and comprehensible answer to the very important question of how the integration of a new part of the city into the structure of the city will work when viewed from the surrounding hills. The contemporary structure gives a non-violent impression and is almost as if it has always been here. The roof design creates a kind of fifth façade, playfully and plastically shaped, perhaps with references to the previous industrial aesthetics of the place. High above the streets, it highlights another layer of semi-public space with an incredibly diverse range of uses, which is an indisputable bonus for future users.

Seam of Náchod. The place where the city connects. Opportunity to sew and tie together the structure of the city with a polyseamus, highly livable, stratified and inclusive structure of the urban environment. Podzámčí, former industrial area, the place of TEPNA textile factory, located close to the historic center and Regner orchard is filled with a diverse urban structure connected together by strong bindings of public spaces. These bindings, in the context of textile factory so called stitches refer to the history of the place and lead pedestrians alongside view of the castle on the one side and the industrial landmarks of the heating plant on the other side. Compelling invitation of walk to the city center or simple routine course for everyday duties, all is designed to be fulfilled by sequential steps proposed I harmony with principles of sustainability – from economic and social to environmental.

The authors of the proposal met the urban scale very well and are doing very well in working with individual urban spaces. Their specific physical form is convincing by its human scale and would certainly offer a pleasant atmosphere. The triangular square north of the Tepna building in connection with the chimney and the view of the castle is good, as well as the location for an important city institution, to which, in addition to this square, there are two other side squares. The design responds well to the ownership of the site and the existing buildings, yet it lacks a certain elegance in the overall organization of the space. The connection to the castle and the too narrow building block near Příkopy are somewhat unresolved. Smaller building blocks create a dense network of alleys and squares, which is, however, debatable in this position of the city, because it spills the energy of the commercial parterre over too large an area. A certain concentration of people's movement brings attractiveness and revitalization of the streets, because the number of users living in the vicinity of these spaces is already given. Smaller building blocks will also limit the way phasing and time work when changing areas. The intention with the southern front of Tepenská Street is not entirely clear. Very nice is the possibility on the way from the housing estate Plhov to choose a more landscape path, along the foot of Regnerovy sady, or urban, passing through almost all key areas of the newly designed district. The paradox of the design is that while the urban design raised only the best expectations in terms of the atmosphere of urban spaces, the architectural design certainly did not look so picturesque. The parking house and the IRS building seem oversized. The design is an example of understanding the importance of looking at the city from above, offering a diverse range of activities taking place at a height, especially in combination with the solution of greenery and paving of new streets and squares. We very much appreciate the consistent work with views of local landmarks, both historical and industrial.

With a rich history closely linked to the weaving industry, the city of Náchod is now in need of a new identity that takes its historical and social context into account. The city’s current problems are related to the exodus of its population and suburbanization. The city is losing its attractiveness for residents and they are forced to look for new, more relevant places to live. A new momentum for the city’s development may lie in the creation of a model of a compact city with a range of options for work, recreation and living. Furthermore, the construction of a socially and economically sustainable ecosystem may attract new residents and promote the harmonious development of the city. New Tepna is likely to become the second heart of the city of Nachod — it is closely connected with the historical center and complements it with its unique qualities.

One of the basic principles of the design is the relocation and opening of the Radechovský brook, which should become a certain backbone of the new construction. The center of the new construction should be a public space accessible only to pedestrians and cyclists, while car service would be only around the perimeter. However, this premise of the north-south axis carries with it the need to demolish the corner house at the mouth of Palackého Street. Without this intervention, the principle would lose its charm and meaning. However, it is difficult to imagine that the demolition proposal would be warmly received by the public, and so this otherwise high-quality proposal is, unfortunately, difficult to implement. Urban spaces are designed sensitively and adequately, as well as the layout of the buildings gives a clear idea that it is otherwise a viable plan. However, the reaction to the property map and the solution of the LIDL store, which does not have the possibility of time phasing, remains debatable. The jury especially appreciated the diversity of urban spaces, transforming the passage from the Plhov housing estate to the center into an urban story. The jury likes the two elegant height dominants at the entrances to the territory. The remaining height with mostly flat roofs is perhaps too calm and monotonous, not corresponding to the developed urban structure. Thanks to the predominant roofs with a regular system of solar panels, the whole district gives the impression of a development center in the middle of a small town. The addition of some parts with greenhouses, playgrounds and other than flat roofs was applied only to a too small extent.

Náchod is one of the few cities that was given the unique opportunity to experience organized development of a larger area in the close proximity to the city center and to create a brand new urban structure based on contemporary ideas of urban development – recent trends in housing, modern rainwater management, suitable organization of transport and public space with trees that cool the city – to create a vibrant neighborhood suitable for work, life and entertainment, in the very center of the city. The great potential of the area faces issues such as the complex connection with the historical center of the city, sound insulation of the backbone road, suitable location of large areas and buildings for retail, Lidl, parking and exit stations of the fire brigade and medical emergency system. These are the flagship, the principal objects, located along the Plhovská street. The whole district is dominated by the huge structure of the former spinning mill Bílá Tepna. It is a wonderful landmark of the neighborhood and also the main square and the surrounding public space. The complex is lined with buzzing ground-floor shops and a pedestrian area connecting it to the city center.

The authors of the proposal divide the area into larger building blocks, which are practical for various types of use and can better respond to more complex property conditions. For example, the block where the LIDL is located may offer more possible scenarios for future use than if it were divided into smaller ones. The strong point of the design is also the space along the castle park, where a nice edge of public space is created. In this sense, however, the proposal would be suitable for the modification of private garages, which, however, is difficult to imagine in the foreseeable future. In the overall spatial rendering of the streets and squares, the proposal, unfortunately, is no longer so convincing and does not fully exploit the potential of the place. Square U Přádelny is less legible in shape and breaks up into more free spaces without a clear hierarchy and shaping. Similarly, the square near the historic center does not have enough facades to surround it, so that one can really mark it as a square. The tracing of the street axes raised questions for the jury. The connection to Charles Square heading to U Přádelny Square was obvious. From here, however, the leading streets lack continuity. It usually ends with a facade and a T junction. The natural road from the Plhov housing estate to Masaryk Square is led at the foot of the castle hill, de facto by the current road. It is therefore not clear what will bring pedestrians to the newly defined center. The selected scale of building materials is user-friendly. Long facades along the border of the solved area could sometimes be enriched with a view, especially at the complex of the parking house and the IRS. The bird's eye view reveals the delicate shaping and dodging of the roofs, creating terraces belonging to the apartments on the highest floors. However, the jury considers the shaping and subtle play to be more formal, which is also indicated by the flat stretching of the roofs with a green carpet, which is not convincingly presented and its usability for the residents of the upper flats and not for anyone else. The only exception is the multi-purpose playground in the Integrated Rescue System building.

The genesis of the functional town is a long-term organic process. The brownfield area of the former Tepna factory will seamlessly connect and complement the current city center. The information provided by the competition organizer and personal interviews with town residents pointed to the need for quality public space, which is now missing in the center, sufficient urban greenery and solution of parking in the town center. After removing the barrier of the Tepna grounds, we create two main communication axes of the area, which respect the natural flow of the residents of the surrounding neighborhoods. We presume that if the industrial complex was not built, these routes would have naturally historically developed. The first axis connects Kamenice Street and the Plhov housing complex. The second axis, which copies the existing Příkopy Street, connects Charles Square with the Plhov housing complex. Today, the street is frequently used as a pedestrian and bicycle connection of the northern part of the town with the center. In the close area of Příkopy Street, we see great potential, because it is directly connected to the castle hill and Regner Park. We add to this greenery and create a linear park arrangement. We complement the importance of Bílá Tepna with a shopping center and naturally integrate it into the new town structure. To the Lidl company, we provide the development phasing according to their requirements. We situate the lands for the light industry near the current metal production. We place the residential function into blocks along the Příkopy linear park. We are aware of the uniqueness of the designated brownfield area on which the town of Náchod has, thanks to the active approach of councilors, the ownership majority. Due to the intertwining of public and private interest, we offer a sufficiently flexible design that will allow the phasing of investments, respecting the current requirements of individual participants and the gradual accomplishment of a long-term vision.

In the first round, the proposal attracted attention with a strong, clear and legible motif. It represents a classic form of urban organization that divides the city into building blocks. Closer to the center, the blocks are more crowded and unfolding to the north, still sticking to the street lines so that public spaces are clearly defined. At first glance, this is a good solution, however, on closer inspection, the jury came to the conclusion that the very shaping of public spaces and the system of streets shows a formalism unrelated to a particular place. Unfortunately, the system of straight axes has no logical justification and feels empty as a gesture. The jury considers the work with the roof landscape to be an important aspect of any design due to the exposed distance views from above. Here it was reduced to flat roofs in one height level without any dominants or possible indications of possible uses, material and shape solutions. As if this aspect has been completely neglected, the solution only allows the upper floors to jump and thus acts as a flat and insufficient for integration into the city's organism.