<blockquote>Lávka v zámeckém parku</blockquote> <blockquote>Bridge in the Castle Park</blockquote>

The footbridge in the castle park in Vlašim was designed as part of the second phase of modifications to the meadow below the Znosim Gate, which will be completed in the spring of this year. Many original interesting structures in the park have been reconstructed. Notably, there is the so-called Chinese Pavilion in the central part of the park. The city's goal was to make the park touristically attractive; funding was provided partly by the European Union. The footbridge was only one of the elements added to the area around the Znosim Gate. It is intended for pedestrians and connects the forecourt of the Znosim Gate with the adjacent island.
In the first phase of the works, the architect was tasked with creating a permanent installation of several sculptures – the results of a sculpture symposium held at the end of summer 2005. The outcome of such events is usually somewhat uncertain and uneven, which was partially the case here as well. Nevertheless, some quality works were created, and the whole has a distinctive quality. The sculptures made of Hřiměždice sandstone were installed on a large meadow on pedestals of yellow-colored concrete. The intention was to create a composition inspired by the famous garden Parco dei Monstri in Bomarzo, where the strange shapes of sculptures "grow" into the lush vegetation, battling decay and the elements. The latter was particularly fulfilled during the flood in April 2006.
In the second phase, the footbridge, chessboard, and other small architecture were built. The entire planning was accompanied by a heated debate with the heritage conservationists, who demanded primarily a "rustic design" for the footbridge and did not permit the placement of the stone chessboard on the lawn.
The footbridge structurally follows the principle of woven "wooden arches," used especially in China but also known, for example, in Renaissance Italy (it was used for the vaulted ceilings of some basilicas). The advantage of this principle is maximum load-bearing capacity with minimal material consumption. The structure consists of twelve load-bearing frames paired in opposing pairs with four cross beams. The railing structure is also fixed to these. The arch is based on two concrete footings; thus, the footbridge structure was brought in and craned into place between the banks. The material of the footbridge is Siberian larch, and the joints are carpentry. The frames are transversely braced with steel fastening. A trip to the site is worth it; Vlašim Park is truly remarkable.

Authors of the installed sculptures: Marie Šeborová - Intruder, Michal Blažek - Vlašimmata, Igor Kalina - Figure, Daniel Talavera - Frog, Hannu Aaltonen - Pentahittinen.