The Building of the Year of the Hradec Králové Region is the Velká Deštná lookout tower

Hradec Králové – The title of Building of the Year for the Hradec Králové Region 2020 was awarded today to the viewpoint at Velká Deštná in the Orlické mountains. The eighteen-meter-high viewpoint with a steel structure, built for approximately five million crowns, was created at an elevation of 1115 meters on the highest peak of the Orlické mountains. It was opened last October. The expert jury also awarded four honorary mentions and a special jury prize. In this year's 17th edition of the competition, builders, investors, and architects submitted 15 constructions, eight more than last year.

The viewpoint, designed by the Brno studio architekti.in, was built on an irregular pentagonal footprint. Its steel structure with stairs is clad in larch beams. When approached from a distance, the viewpoint appears like a slender skyscraper. The jury praised the simplicity of the construction as well as the simple and artistic cladding of the viewpoint. They also considered the gentle integration of the viewpoint into the surrounding nature.

The municipality of Deštné in the Orlické mountains has been striving for a viewpoint at Velká Deštná for several years. It was also made possible by Jan Egon Kolowrat donating land for the viewpoint to the municipality. In the past, there were several simple wooden observation points at Velká Deštná, resembling hunting hides. The last one was removed ten years ago. The new viewpoint has become a modern pilgrimage site for the Orlické mountains.

Today, the expert jury awarded honorary mentions for the reconstruction of the city cinema Český ráj in Jičín, the reconstruction of the historical staircase Bono Publico in Hradec Králové, the reconstruction of the East Bohemian Museum building in Hradec Králové, and the reconstruction of the bridge in the Safari Park complex in Dvůr Králové nad Labem. The special jury prize was awarded for the extension, annex, and construction modifications of the elementary school in Dobřany in the Orlické mountains.