Prague Market Interspaces

The Holešovice Market Hall, a unique historical complex that has retained its genius loci despite its decline in recent decades, now stands on the threshold of a new opportunity. By sensitively transforming the public space with a quality programme, it can attract new visitors and create a local and citywide destination for residents with a link to the history and future of Prague. The current market suffers from long-term underinvestment in infrastructure, architecture and public space. Broken surfaces, lack of furnishings, absence of any greenery, and opaque traffic solutions make the intermediate space an unpleasant place where people do not want to spend their leisure time. Still, life in the market has found its opportunities - guerrilla occupation of the space by food trucks, new stalls and urban furniture are gradually increasing the number of visitors and people are starting to spend more time there. New venues such as Jatka78, cowork in H40 or exhibitions in the Trafo Gallery, create an interesting program for all age groups in their surroundings throughout the day. Inspired by the architecture of the market, we accentuate the circular sections in contrast to the orthogonal system. Circle and grid are thus the main language of the new morphology of the designed elements. We create a natural connection between history and future development. The different parts of the design are based on systemic principles that can be easily developed in application, whether it is paving, furnishings or new fencing. We work with geometry as a structure or décor.

We appreciated the clear approach of the solution, which stood out compared to other projects, not only in the landscape and public space design, but also by working with themes such as global warming. We also appreciate the work with a wide yet condition-appropriate plant palette, designed with a considerable variety and reasonable proportion. The jury appreciated the good treatment of the overall design and highly appreciates the work of connecting the market to the surroundings, i.e. the penetration of the perimeter wall and the opening up of the site, which seems optimal and highly functional. The jury recommends working more sensitively with the water features, especially the water area between buildings 24 and 25, while the jury supports the water area between tower 39 and building 19. The watchtower is redundant and represents an investment with unclear meaning. Investment of CZK 353 million. The jury considers it to be a credible investment costs, including the maintenance of the proposed solution, and considers the amount to be well thought-out and optimal.

SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY Transformation of listed area of the Brown-field “Central Slaughterhouse in Prague” opens an exceptional opportunity to create live multicultural urban part situat-ed on Bubenské waterfront. The interspac-es of the area of the Prague Market are of various spatial quality. More intimate, narrow streets, small squares, corners and passages form a specific atmosphere for visitors and local communities. Atmos-phere of larger places of cultural and social gatherings may be found in the Slaughterhouse Park, Holešovice stairs, Promenade and Bubny plateau. The proposed solution reacts to the potential of Bubenské waterfront in relation to the future position of the Prague Philharmon-ic, the new Railway Station Bubny-Zátory with the aim to create quality and inclusive public spaces connecting with the existing facilities and the live parterre of buildings of the Prague Market. The design offers a vision of conversion of the area as a quite unparalleled place dedicated to gastrono-my and contemporary creative industry. The aim is to create urban environment with added value, with specific atmos-phere, where one can discover and experi-ence “Something new every day”. We advo-cate both traditions of the area - the current Market and original Slaughter-house as the main determinant identity of the environment.

We appreciate the emphasis on the waterfront that connects the market to the river. We commend the quality of the new links between the market and the surrounding area, both in terms of the urban design of the appropriately chosen locations and the design itself, i.e. the good treatment of the perimeter wall. In contrast, the northern and southern entrances could use more generosity and clarity. We welcome the suggestions for the use of alleyways and small corners, but these should provide more variation for the operator of the place. The design concentrates on a small scale at the expense of the freedom and openness of a larger scale. There is an over-definition, which is suffered most by the larger-scale spaces and buildings from which the design draws attention. The day-to-day operation of the market and the long-standing renovation of the buildings require more durable surfaces and open spaces between buildings that the proposed park concept does not support. The site chosen for the park by the three tracks seems more suitable for the operation and supply of the market due to its proximity to busy Argentinská Street. However, in the northern part, adjacent to residential houses, a combination of park and informal sports facilities is more appropriate. By achieving variability of spaces, variability in time was eliminated, especially in the case of the Slaughter Pit and Korzo. The jury critically evaluated the total investment costs of CZK 110 million as unrealistic despite the numerous use of earth-compacted surfaces and grass areas, which reduce investment costs but increase operating costs. It is necessary to take into account the increase in the prices of individual items, especially the various types of paving.

The marketplace is the counterpart of the department store as we understand it today. The future of the marketplace thus links the values of sustainability - from economics, community and social relations to a reflection of today‘s environmental challenges. All in both design and activities - from circularity to the adaptability of its space and processes. The marketplace is the matrix for relationships and the life of the city!

We appreciate the overall logical and clear solution of the space, including problematic parking. The spaces are not crowded with activities and elements, thus offering the opportunity for further flexible use. However, we miss a more specific solution of individual spaces, which are thus relatively homogeneous. We also miss a stronger connection with the river. Quite careful work with ecological themes especially on the outskirts of the market is appreciated. We recommend the reuse of the extracted material. The proposal interacts well with the historical environment, including the representation of green areas and paved areas; greenery is not placed at all costs. The solution of greenery has a good concept (formal central part and more relaxed northern and southern part), but its further elaboration remains rather undeveloped to reach a distinctive landscape design. Likewise, the solution to support biodiversity and water management is not convincingly resolved. The design works appropriately with existing materials (surfaces), is economically justified. The jury considers the investment costs of CZK 241 million in need of verification. In particular, working with recycled material may reduce costs, but this is questionable in view of the large areas involved. Maintenance is costly and to optimise the planting to achieve lower maintenance the design needs to be simplified.

The old slaughterhouse factory exudes all the qualities needed to transform into an area where past and future intertwine, where nature and city embrace each other and where all kinds of people will be inspired by each other’s stories and unexpected encounters. The new factory is transformed into an open structure, where the characteristics of the buildings are celebrated, connected and made more visible. The outdoor space organizes itself as an open space in which natural and urban identity have an equal share. The trick here is to make space by leaving space. Space for visitors in exploration, in experiment, in unexpected encounter, in concentration and in contemplation. Likewise, there is considerable space for nature to grow, bloom, develop and work as a nourishing and healing environment.

The overall idea of green perimeter intervention in contrast of the built-up area makes generous approach what hardscaping-focused cities likely need. The proposal works with radical monotone tree rows following the main axis south-north. The proposal takes into consideration to have also less intensive green areas with a gentle landscaping in small alleys among buildings. The main gathering and event space in the south west corner may provide space flexibility and openness but at the same time people might relax underneath the tree canopy of its frame arrangement especially next to the south-north axis. Water elements play important role in the proposal of Prague Market Interspaces, which tends to add water bodies especially into the green perimeter. Water elements have features of natural ponds. However, rain water retention does not have to be just an exposed water surface but it might be a hidden retention system with different broad ecological amplitude of plant species above. Exposed water surfaces are difficult for maintenance and attractiveness due to changing their character based on how clean they are. Treatment of rain water also counts with pumping water into the river which is not appropriate in terms of sustainability. As the proposal tends to create bold green areas and very long tree lines, it does not consider properly specific identity, scale and rhythm differences. Despite the credible investment costs of CZK 324 million, the jury critically assessed the high maintenance costs. The proposal does not fully show the type of greenery and the cost of its maintenance.

The proposal adopts the organizational scheme of the two main axes. The north-south axis being the main public space and the east-west axis being the secondary perpendicular connection between the car parks at opposite ends of the complex. The northern boundary of the site is transformed into a linear park, which significantly increases the quality of the Jateční street and mediates the relationship with the residential district of Holešovice. Both main entrances are emphasised by adding row of flags to signal their presence and the current program of the venue. Spatial concept is based on providing a diverse range of outdoor space types. They vary in size, proportion, some of them are covered with roofs, some are hiden under trees while some are completely open. Various pavement patterns define them acting as “carpets” structuring the spaces of the Prague market. A substantial reduction of solid surfaces allows for maximum retention of rainwater in the area. The retained water will then evaporate to cool the local microclimate.

The competition design respects the elementary geometric nature of the site, articulating and defining the main public spaces with a legible and memorable character. It skilfully uses the potential of the individual intermediate spaces and promotes their spatial and situational diversity. The design visually opens up the perimeter of the site, clearly articulating the entrances. The jury rated highly the design of the new western entrance and of the northern edge of the site, with its linear park and covered marketplace. The creation of this “new” place brings a fresh quality to Jateční Street. The design brings a new architectural layer to the site in the form of a long pergola, a roofed market, water features, furniture and small architecture. This layer looks sophisticated and realistic in the context. The spatial diversity is reflected in the diversification of the design of the surfaces. The concept of surface design using concrete paving, fundamentally changing the original character of the environment, was perceived negatively by the jury. The extensive use of earth-compacted surface is positive in terms of environmental context, but problematic in the context of conservation. The planting conception remained, unfortunately, schematic. Despite the realistic investment costs of CZK 543 million, the jury did not appreciate the investment in a new roof structure, which is costly in proposed aesthetics. The maintenance of the surface is not considered by the jury to be too expensive, but there are significant risks in the quality of the surface finish which may be reflected in the maintenance costs.

Developments in the future should be adaptations rather than constructions. Existing (in this case protected) urban spaces and buildings should not be built on, but adapted to a transforming society and changing climate so it’s the usability of spaces that is of primary importance and not the amount of the newly-built structures. What this proposal suggests is how to transform a place with a minimum amount of construction, redefining the atmosphere and functionality of spaces in terms of ecological sustainability, climate awareness and inclusiveness.

The authors had a very promising proposal in the first phase, which was not fulfilled in the second phase. An urban laboratory was not transferred in a vital, solid and generous design. The narrative of environmentally friendly design responsive to climate change is an important element, but is unfortunately not functional in the proposed (ecological) concept. This proposal is an old-fashioned project, based on ideas and designs that are several decades old. This is evident in the text, which seeks to use not architectural or landscape articulation, but very precise and subtle rendering, as indicated by the wind towers or the details of the sidewalks. One could call this a projection of utopia, with less respect for existing program and existing interior uses. The design is very theoretically developed, but it falls a bit short of proposing concrete steps and goals. In terms of architectural and landscape design, it is rather schematic, mentioning all the required layers, but describing them in very general terms, lacking detail and specificity for the second round. The design of permeable surfaces and vegetation appears to be very haphazard and with little respect for the existing development as evidenced by the open courtyards. The design of the parking lots is very basic, burdens the surrounding residential areas and does not meet the code (lack of tree placement in the parking lots). Opening it completely without the ability to regulate certain areas (for concerts, gatherings, etc.) is very problematic from an operational standpoint. Although the investment costs are realistic, CZK 600 million, it does not deliver the expected use of invested funds. The proposal draws attention to the level of costs in infrastructure that is required to ensure the proper functioning of the public realm. Overall, the jury considers maintenance to be expensive and difficult to estimate for the future.