Modification of Tachov Square

Tachovské Square has undergone a transformation. When looking at the cadastral plan, it is almost trivially simple, a missing block in the structure of Žižkov blocks. However, a second look reveals more layers that define its identity. On three sides, it is enclosed by the facades of apartment buildings, while its fourth side is shaped by the steep slope of Vítkov. The square lies at the intersection of several directions of pedestrian movement, which brings energy to the place. The exit of the pedestrian tunnel from Karlín to Žižkov, the A25 bike path following the former railway, the busy Hartigova Street (formerly Koněvova), as well as the forecourt for entering the walk in Vítkov Park.
The railway line had formed a barrier for over a century between the square and the hill of Vítkov. A stone fence and bars lined the track to protect pedestrians from collisions with trains. There was a city scale on the square where cars from the nearby Žižkov market would drive. In the early 1950s, a pedestrian tunnel to Karlín was built, along with an underpass under the track that connected the park with Žižkov. The tunnel and the underpass transformed the spatial relationships and strengthened the significance of the square. In the early 1970s, a public toilet building was then constructed in the middle of the square, which later became a locksmith's workshop in the 1990s.
In 2013, we won a requested architectural competition. The basic concept was to change the spatial arrangement of the square. We removed the underpass under the former track and connected the square area with the bike path. The concept required lengthy discussions. For a long time, it was unclear who owned the removed footbridge that stood above the tunnel and formed a bridge with the railway, which became the bike path.
The basic concept of the design is movement from the city to the hill and vice versa. The direction of movement is coded in the body of the tunnel, in the sidewalks alongside the buildings, and is a substantial property of the place. Each of the stripes has its function. The pathways along the houses alternate with strips of stepped seating for visitors to pubs and cafes. In the center of the square is a resting place – a paved area shaded by trees. The retaining walls along the ramp from the tunnel were raised to allow both sides of the square to connect at one level. Then, on the northern side, a pair of stairs and a sidewalk connect the square to the bike path. Its rotation creates a cove that offers a stop on the bike path with a view of the square.
The sloping central area is designated for seating with a view of the hustle and bustle of Hartigova Street. The area is complemented by several beds with ornamental herbs and a group of plane trees. The beds and trees with grids are arranged to best capture and accumulate rainwater that flows down the sloping square.
At the entrance to the hill of Vítkov stands an atypical sculptural lamp. It highlights a point on the path – the intersection of the bike path and the walk to Vítkov. The light serves as a beacon for lost park visitors and a welcome for newcomers.
We wanted the well with the pump, which has stood here for over a hundred years, to be put back into operation so that it could be drunk from. The well still has a sufficient spring, but the conditions set by sanitation were not acceptable for the operators. We developed a system where a tank from the public water supply is connected under the pump, meaning that the water pumped is potable.
On the site of the former city scale, its outline is marked on the pavement. And a real scale has now been added. This one was previously used for weighing fruits and vegetables in Hodonín. It has been partially modified to better withstand insensitive traffic; however, it remains a delicate mechanism and is especially not suited for excessive overload. Still, we believe in the cultivation of public space and wanted to make an attempt to remember the scale. A number of passersby step onto the scale daily. It does not weigh completely accurately due to temperature changes, but usually, laughter can be heard afterwards.