Results of the "Plzeň, Americká - Sirková" competition

The jury of the architectural-urban planning competition "Plzeň, Americká - Sirková" at its meeting on May 13, 2014, awarded three competition proposals. No first prize was awarded, but two proposals received second prizes. A total of 11 competition proposals were submitted. One proposal was not admitted for proper evaluation due to violation of mandatory conditions. The jury states that the level of the competition proposals does not reach a quality sufficient for one proposal to be recommended as a basis for developing a land use study. For this reason, the jury did not award a first prize but decided to award two second prizes. However, the competition proposals contained a number of themes that the jury formulated into basic urban planning principles, which they recommended as a basis for developing the land use study.

1st prize – not awarded

2nd prize: 150,000 CZK
Proposal no. 6 – author team: Ing. arch. Pavel Buryška, Bc. Zdeňka Havlová, Ing. arch. Robert Jelínek, Ing. akad. arch. Václav Králíček, Ing. arch. Barbora Mikitová

Jury evaluation:
The proposal represents a group of proposals based on the rectangular geometry of the streets Americká – Sirková without a diagonal axis intersecting the area. The proposal confirms Americká Street as a boulevard. The jury agrees with the assertion contained in the author’s report that the proposal aims to define public spaces with massing, define their scales and interconnections, which the jury perceives as a quality. The proposal most respects both the existing and proposed transport and technical infrastructure. The proposal preserves and creatively utilizes the existing underpass for further connection into the area. Illustrations of real architecture are unconvincing, including illustrations of potential public spaces. Declared principles and descriptions are not sufficiently reflected in the three-dimensional proposal.


2nd prize: 150,000 CZK
Proposal no. 9 – author: Ing. arch. Petr Starčevič

Jury evaluation:
The proposal represents a group of proposals based on the rectangular geometry of the streets Americká – Sirková without a diagonal axis intersecting the area. The proposal is characterized by a readable and attractive structure of public spaces, including a park-like public space connecting to the footbridge and park circuit, a generously designed forecourt, and a bold solution for the block between Sirková and Nádražní streets. The economic impact of the otherwise positive block Sirková – Nádražní in relation to transport buildings and infrastructure needs to be examined. We consider the proposed building height limit, inadequate to the significance of the location and needs of the city, to be a fundamental error. The traffic solution for Sirková Street requires a more detailed analysis.


3rd prize: 100,000 CZK
Proposal no. 10 – author team: Ing. arch. Martin Spěváček, Ing. arch. Bohuslav Strejc, Bc. Filip Kastl, collaborators: Ing. Ondřej Janout, Ing. Martin Hájek, Jan Lusk

Jury evaluation:
This is one of a group of proposals working with a diagonal sight and communication axis between the museum and the main train station. The proposal establishes a clear compositional strategy for streets and buildings along Americká and Sirková streets with a public space in front of the existing Tesco. The sight axis is created by a system of diverse public spaces arranged in a loose manner. The construction on the riverside and the promenade solution is unconvincing. The footbridge assembly above the U Jána intersection is not an adequate solution for pedestrian movement in this locality. The movement of pedestrians in front of the station is also not addressed, and the typology of objects in the forecourt space is unclear.