The competitions concerning metro stations D will be discussed by Prague within weeks

Prague - The leadership of Prague will discuss an architectural competition for two stations and an artistic competition for eight stations of the planned metro D in the coming weeks. The mayor's deputy Petr Dolínek (ČSSD) told ČTK in response to a question that he informed the council about this today. He will present a proposal for further steps, including costs, to the representatives in October. The petition requesting an architectural competition will be discussed by the representatives instead of in September, a month later, the deputy mentioned.

Metro D will connect the city center with the southern part of the city. The initiators of the petition, which was signed by thousands of people, request that the design of the stations, unlike previous practices, comes from an international architectural competition. The design of the stations is currently determined by the company Metroprojekt, which is preparing a project for the city costing 440 million crowns.

"I agree with the petition," said the mayor's deputy Petra Kolínská (Trojkoalice/SZ) last week. She met with the petitioners. "Together with my colleague Dolínek, we are preparing a procedure that aims to reconcile this legitimate request with the current state of a project that has been in preparation for more than 20 years," she added.

The city claims that architectural competitions can only be announced for the stations Náměstí Bratří Synků and Náměstí Míru. The appearance of the interiors of the remaining eight stations cannot change significantly due to the issued zoning decision.

The website lidovky.cz today reported that Metroprojekt, in agreement with the city’s Institute of Planning and Development (IPR), has adjusted the appearance of some stations. However, according to IPR director Petr Hlaváček, these proposals cannot be considered final. "IPR is a conceptual, not a project workplace. The commenting on individual stations took place at the level of recommendations," he told ČTK. "The final shape of the stations will emerge from open artistic competitions. Based on the competitions, the documentation for the building permit will be modified," he added.

Construction will first start on the section from Pankrác to Písnice. In the next phase, the remaining two stations, Náměstí Bratří Synků and Náměstí Míru, will be built. The construction of the first part should be completed by 2022, but it is unclear whether the expected deadline will be met. So far, it has not been possible to acquire all the land necessary for construction, without which it is not possible to apply for a building permit.