The competition for the renovation of the square in Přibyslav was won by the studio gogolák + grasse

Přibyslav - The architectural competition for the modification of Bechyňovo Square in Přibyslav in the Havlíčkův Brod region was won by the Prague studio gogolák + grasse, s.r.o. They prevailed among 13 proposals. The city will negotiate with them to conclude a contract for the preparation of project documentation, said Deputy Mayor Michael Omes (for KDU-ČSL) to journalists today. The first phase of the square’s revitalization could, according to the city hall's expectations, begin in two years. The city is also negotiating with the authorities about relocating the fallen soldiers' monument from the square to the cemetery.

The sandstone monument to the victims of both wars in the small park on the square dates back to 1948. On its sides are the graves of Red Army soldiers, which, according to the heritage catalog, are not part of the monument.

"We already have an architectural study commissioned for the relocation," stated Mayor Martin Kamarád (ODS). He mentioned that the decision regarding the monument, which is a cultural heritage site, rests with the regional office. "Regarding the relocation of the graves, we are discussing this with the Ministry of Defense, which will need to consult with the Russian embassy," said the mayor. He added that only the graves might be left in the square.

Last March, the leadership of the four-thousand-strong Přibyslav removed the statue of the Red Army soldier from the monument, justifying it by saying that after the Russian army's invasion of Ukraine, it elicited strong emotions. The statue is currently in storage.

The competition for the overall restoration of Bechyňovo Square was announced by the city in mid-summer. Proposals were evaluated by a jury composed of city representatives and independent experts, including Aleš Burian, Luděk Rýzner, Luboš Klabík, Kateřina Waldhauser, and Ondrej Palenčar.

The second place in the competition was taken by a proposal from the German landscape architecture studio Till Rehwaldt, while the third was by Prague architect Pavel Mahdal. No participants appealed the results within the given timeframe, stated Omes. The city intends to present the proposals to the public in February. "If possible, we will also address their comments," he said.

"The aim of the architectural competition was to verify the proposal of architectural, landscape, and traffic solutions for Bechyňovo Square," stated the mayor. He also mentioned that it is necessary to address the unsatisfactory technical condition of roads and utility networks. According to the winning proposal, the square should retain around a hundred parking spaces, somewhat fewer than currently. There should be more trees, which will also newly line the main road route 19. The proposal also envisages the creation of a resting area with a gazebo and a new pedestrian crossing.

The estimated costs for the modification of the square were set at approximately 150 million crowns in the competition. The reward for the winner was half a million crowns.