30 studios are interested in the competition for the design of the reconstruction of the Czech Budějovice square.

České Budějovice – 30 Czech and foreign studios have applied for the architectural competition for the reconstruction of the Czech Budějovice Senovážné Square. Among other things, an underground parking lot and, in the future, a building for the Alšova South Bohemian Gallery are to be included in the area located close to the city center. The jury will select eight of the best from the registered participants. This was stated by the spokesperson of the České Budějovice magistrate, Jitka Welzlová.

"Participants in the competition are expected to provide an analysis of the current state, define problems, explore potentials, and propose a conceptual solution that takes into account the requirements specified in the competition brief. In it, the city particularly mentions the requirement to uncover the bed of the Mlýnský stream, build a capacious underground parking lot, and subsequently modify the entire space from the museum building to the post office. It should be a space offering a comprehensive urban, architectural, landscape, and traffic solution," said Juraj Thoma, Deputy Mayor of České Budějovice (Citizens for Budějovice movement).

The eight selected applicants will develop specific architectural designs. Currently, Senovážné Square largely serves as a parking lot. In the past, the area was empty and dominated only by a large statue of V. I. Lenin. The city has been seeking the ideal form of the space for several decades. The costs for the planned reconstruction are expected to be in the tens of millions of crowns. The city will divide three million crowns among the architects. "Considering the anticipated amount of investment, the brief also includes a requirement for the phasing of the entire project, and the possibility of utilizing European grant funds is also anticipated,” Thoma stated.