The control points at the entrances to the Prague Castle complex will be given a new form

Prague – The control posts at the entrances to the Prague Castle complex will receive a new look. The Administration of Prague Castle (SPH) and the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR) are collaborating on a competition for their design, with the winner expected to be announced at the beginning of summer. This was stated today in a press release by the Administration of Prague Castle, and the matter was also reported by the iDNES.cz server.

"The current shelters were built hastily in 2016, the wood is degrading and they lack functionality - for example, shading. The new structures should be subtle, aesthetic, mobile, and more welcoming not only for police officers who spend long hours on-site but especially for visitors," stated the director of the Administration of Prague Castle, Pavel Vyhnánek.

This is the first architectural-design competition announced by the Administration of Prague Castle in almost 30 years. Next year, two more competitions will follow for the restoration of the historic Chotkovy Gardens and new exterior lighting for the Castle.

The proposals will be evaluated by a jury that includes designer Jerry Koza, architect Markéta Zdebská, designer Jiří Pelcl, or construction specialist Jiří Kolísko from the Czech Technical University (ČVUT) in Prague.

"From the expressed interest of the expert jury, it is clear that this topic has been long overlooked, even though it is essential for the perception of the Castle. The cultivation of control posts is also related to the modification of the adjacent public spaces, which we will be happy to collaborate on with the SPH," noted the director of IPR, Ondřej Boháč.

According to the administration, the entrances to the Castle will gradually begin to change in the spring. The yellow army hedgehogs preventing vehicle access will be replaced by retractable bollards. They will be installed first at the Powder Bridge, then in Na Opyši street, where archaeological research is also planned.

Last year, security checks in the gardens were abolished, and from this year, toilets at the Castle are free. In the future, according to the SPH, new benches and a relaxation zone for families with children will be added.