In Brno, the future design of Moravian Square has been selected

Brno - The winner of the architectural competition for the future arrangement of the park area of Moravské náměstí in Brno is the office of consequence forma. The jury, composed of politicians and independent experts, selected it from 20 submitted proposals. The square will have two main functions in the future - relaxation and also cultural, thanks to the newly created central area, where there will be a large space for various events. The Brno-Center city district would like the reconstruction of the square to take place in 2018, said city district councilor Petr Bořecký (ANO) at a press conference today.

The architects proposed a new arrangement of paths. The entrances will remain on the same sides as before, but there will be an additional resting circular path that follows the older tree planting. "We will preserve most of the mature trees. We will remove smaller trees and shrubs that do not have much value, and conversely, we will plant more trees," said Janica Šipulová from the architectural office. The most valuable trees will be preserved as determined by a dendrological survey.

In the center of the square, a relatively large area will be created for various screenings, exhibitions, theatrical performances, and concerts. There will also be water features similar to those in front of the Janáček Theatre. "Water will jet directly from the surface," stated Šipulová's colleague Martin Sládek.

In the northern part of the square, a café will stand facing south, meaning it will be sunlit for most of the day. "It is designed so that there is a view of the park and also of the silhouette of the historical center. In the summer, it will be possible to place tables in front of it," Sládek noted. There will be a children's playground with climbing structures next to the café.

The estimated cost for the reconstruction is around 25 million crowns; the exact amount will be determined only after the project documentation, which should be created next year. "In January, people will be able to view all submitted proposals in the Místodržitelský palác," Bořecký added.

The competition also included a requirement to somehow incorporate a reference to the German House, which stood here until the end of World War II. The architects symbolically addressed this by leaving an empty space where the house used to be, which will be the future central area. "But there should probably be some specific reminder of the past here," believes Šipulová.

The generously designed Moravské náměstí was created in the 19th century after the demolition of the city fortifications. The reconstruction only concerns a part of it. The German House was built in 1891 as a visual termination of the then newly pierced Rašínova street. It has borne its current name since 1990.