The completion of Victory Square has come a step closer

The competition for the completion of the 4th quadrant of Vítězné náměstí has moved into the 2nd phase. The international jury selected five competition teams that will develop detailed proposals for the completion of Prague's third-largest square and the center of Dejvice. Among the multidisciplinary teams are world-renowned architectural studios and award-winning Czech offices.

On Monday, February 13 and Tuesday, February 14, the second competition workshop took place at the Center for Architecture and Urban Planning (CAMP), where nine competition teams presented their concept for the completion of the 4th quadrant of Vítězné náměstí and discussed it with the international jury and invited experts. The subsequent closed session of the jury concluded with the selection of five competition teams that will move on to the 2nd phase of the competition and further develop their concepts into detailed proposals. The selected teams are:
A69 – architekti (Czech Republic)
Benthem Crouwel International (Netherlands) + Opočenský Valouch Architekti (Czech Republic)
Cityförster (Netherlands) + Studio Perspektiv (Czech Republic)
MVRDV (Netherlands)
Pavel Hnilička Architects+Planners (Czech Republic) + Baumschlager Eberle Architects (Austria)

“The presented projects showcased a rich and wide range of solutions for the completion of the 4th quadrant. The jury emphasized not only the architectural and urban design of the buildings and their connection to the urban structure of Dejvice but also pedestrian accessibility, the quality of public spaces, and blue-green infrastructure. An important consideration was also the contribution of the completion of the 4th quadrant to the residents of Prague 6,” explains the jury chairman Kees Christiaanse, a Dutch urban planner and professor at ETH Zurich.

Due to the complexity of the competition brief, the evaluation of proposals, presentations of contestants, and discussions also involved invited jury experts. They assessed the submitted competition proposals in the areas of urbanism, heritage preservation, adaptation to climate change, transportation, and sustainable mobility, as well as evaluating the costs of construction and building operation. Therefore, the jurors had the opportunity to hear expert opinions on each competition proposal during discussions with the experts.

“The jury's decision-making was not easy; all nine proposals were of high quality and met the requirements of the competition brief. Ultimately, however, there was a consensus in the jury to select these five proposals. An important criterion was also the convincing fulfillment of the so-called green coefficient, that is, the availability of green areas with an emphasis on those located on natural terrain,” explains the decision-making of the jury representative Petr Návrat from the planning office ONplan.

“Although we have organized many architectural competitions, whether for invited architects or open ones, I am always surprised at how diverse architectural-urban concepts can be developed for the same task. Even in this case, where architects are constrained by the requirement to respect the urbanism of architect Engel, nine very different proposals were presented, and it was not easy to choose five advancing teams. However, I am convinced that the jury made the right choice, and I am very much looking forward to the final proposals.” Evaluated the course of the competition Petr Palička from Penta Real Estate.

“I am glad that the investor heeded the request for an international architectural competition with our conditions, which also include that the project should contain a substantial portion of civic facilities, shops, restaurants, clinics, and services. For future approval, it is also necessary to respect the surroundings and the original zoning plan of architect Antonín Engel, in addition to the placement of the cultural center,” specifies the requirements of the Prague 6 district mayor, Jakub Stárek.

“Prague 6 has long felt a lack of cultural facilities in the central areas of Dejvice and Bubeneč. The completion of the fourth quadrant of Vítězné náměstí presents a unique opportunity to address this deficit. The inclusion of the concept of a cultural center at Vítězné náměstí in the architectural competition brief is the first step towards a goal where our district should have a top-notch cultural facility of citywide significance with two halls for more than 1,000 spectators, community spaces, and a connected café,” adds Petr Prokop, statutory deputy mayor of the Prague 6 district.

The aim of the competition workshop is to find a new form and optimal architectural and urban solution for the northwestern part of Vítězné náměstí. The competition is organized by the Fourth Quadrant company, created by investors Penta Real Estate, Sekyra Group, and Kaprain, in cooperation with the University of Chemistry and Technology, the City of Prague, the Prague 6 district, and IPR Prague. The planning office ONplan is the organizer of the competition. In the area being addressed, up to 100,000 m² of space for civic amenities, housing, and administrative functions will be created. The completion will also include a new cultural center for Prague 6 with an area of 3,000 m² and two halls.

“I am pleased that we can participate in the competition for the completion of Vítězné náměstí, which builds on its future form from the Pavel Hnilička Architects and Planners studio. As it is one of the most frequented places in Prague, it is essential that the square and its surroundings receive a new, and above all functional face from experienced studios that have reached the finals of the competition,” adds Ondřej Boháč, director of IPR Prague.
The international competition takes place in the form of a so-called competition workshop, which is non-anonymous. This allows the jury, made up not only of architects but also of clients, representatives of the City of Prague, the Prague 6 district, the University of Chemistry and Technology, and IPR Prague to engage in direct dialogue with the competition teams during the workshop. In the upcoming second round, the five advancing competition teams will work on detailed proposals for the completion of Vítězné náměstí. The final form will be known in mid-June 2023, when the third competition workshop will take place, after which the jury will select the competition winner.