Call for Designers from Around the World – International Competition for a New Design of the Cable Cars on Petřín

The Prague Public Transit Company (DPP) announced an international design competition for a new design of the cable cars for Petřín, which is one of the steps in the project to modernize this most visited Prague landmark. Interested participants can submit their applications until November 1, 2021. The competition is open to designers from around the world, and DPP, in consultation with the City of Prague (HMP), allocated an amount of 1.5 million CZK (approximately 59,100 euros according to exchange rate fluctuations), which is intended for prizes and reimbursement of participants' expenses. The materials for the competition will be published on the DPP’s profile in the Tender arena.A five-member expert jury will decide on the winner. DPP intends for this to happen by the end of February 2022. The first passengers could ride the new cable car as early as the end of 2023.

The subject of the competition is the design of two similar cable car vehicles, each with a capacity of up to 120 passengers, including the bodywork and interior. The design itself must be a timeless, modern, and innovative solution that respects the trends of public transportation in the 21st century, as well as the genius loci and the fact that it is one of the most popular and visited landmarks in Prague. The deadline for submitting applications to participate in the competition and for presenting portfolios of their reference works is set for Czech and foreign designers until November 1, 2021. Submissions can only be made electronically via the contracting authority's profile, i.e., DPP, on the Tender arena portal. All information about the competition can be found on the website www.dpp.cz/designerskasoutez.

The winner and the second place in this design competition will be determined by a five-member jury. The results of the competition could be known as early as March next year. The jury will consist of prominent figures from the design scene and public life, as well as transportation experts. Among them will be Gerhard Nüssler, a member of the board of the International Design Center in Berlin, who has been engaged in vehicle design and industrial design since 1991 and has won several international and national design awards. Also sitting on the jury will be Jan Dědek, a senior interior designer at Škoda Auto, who contributed to the latest models of Scala, Octavia, and Enyaq, and Jiří Pelcl, a professor at the University of Applied Arts in Prague (UMPRUM) and its former rector, who holds numerous international and national design awards. The designs will be consulted with renowned manufacturers during the competition.

Since this is a unique cable car and further mass production is not anticipated, the result of this competition will not be a completely new prototype of the cable car but a design for new vehicles based on existing manufacturers' technologies on the market. DPP and HMP plan to present all submitted designs, including the first and second places, to the public in March 2022.

“The cabin of the cable car on Petřín has historically been replaced approximately every thirty years. Each generation brought a unique design, and it will be interesting to see the new ideas,” comments the announcement of the design competition Adam Scheinherr, Deputy Mayor for Transportation and Chairman of DPP's Supervisory Board, adding: “There are not many means of transport in the world from which passengers have such an exclusive view as from the Petřín cable car. Its attendance even surpasses that of Prague Castle. The cable car to Petřín is both a tourist and transportation icon of Prague; it deserves a unique and timeless design. According to him, DPP will use a public procurement process to manufacture new vehicles that can serve both Prague residents and visitors to the capital for the next 30 years. We expect that smart design and a new interior will further increase the current capacity of the Petřín cable car.”

Jan Šurovský, a board member and technical director of DPP – Surface recalls: “The Petřín cable car is a phenomenon. I clearly remember walking in the area where it once operated as a young schoolboy, and only abandoned remnants were left. With great enthusiasm, I welcomed the restart of operations in 1985, and I am eager to see what approach, and especially what design, the contestants will surprise us with.”

Anna Švarc, the DPP subway architect, also serves on the jury and oversees the architectural implementation in the modernization projects of existing stations and is also responsible for the visual aspect of the new Line D. She gathered her experience, for instance, with the renowned Eva Jiřičná or Egret West Studio in London, where she contributed to the creation of the London Underground Design Manual. “The design of the cabins of the new Petřín cable car vehicles should be user-friendly and visually correspond to the 21st century,” says Anna Švarc, adding: “At the same time, it must respect the demands that society currently addresses, particularly in the form of historical, economic, and ecological contexts of this contract.”

Did you know that:

The Petřín cable car has been an inseparable part of not only Prague's public transportation but also the city's genius loci for nearly 130 years. The current cable car is the 3rd generation of this means of transport at its location. Each has lasted around 30 years in operation before being replaced by more modern vehicles. The current one has been in service for 35 years, and that’s why it is awaiting its generational replacement.

The ride on the cable car to Petřín takes 4 minutes, and its 2 vehicles overcome a height of 130 m. It is a funicular with a shuttle service. The transport of passengers is provided by two cars suspended on a common towing cable, moving along a single-track line with a switch.

The cable car transports over 2 million passengers in a typical year, which amounts to about 1,400 passengers per hour. Since 1985, nearly 55 million people have used it. It is the second most visited attraction in the Czech Republic.

Although it may seem that the primary users of the cable car are tourists from the Czech Republic and abroad, it should be noted that a very significant group of users is also residents of Strahov and students. Petřín Hill is one of the steepest in Prague, and reaching its summit can be done individually by car from outside the main center of Prague or by buses along the same route. Therefore, the cable car is an attractive and the shortest connection between the Petřín Gardens park, the Strahov area, and part of Břevnov with the historic center of Prague, Malá Strana, and the Vltava River. Due to Prague's prominent topography, the cable car is also heavily used by cyclists. However, they often cannot board due to its limited capacity. In winter, it is also used as a means of transport for sledders and skiers.

The cable car is located in the very heart of Prague, in the Prague 1 administrative district, is part of the Prague Heritage Reserve, and is within the area of worldwide cultural heritage under UNESCO protection. It connects one of the oldest parts of the city with the summit of Petřín Hill at an altitude of 237 m. Nearby the upper station of Petřín is the Štefánik Observatory, the Rose Garden, and fruit orchards, a mirror maze, and the Petřín Lookout Tower, which is 60 m high and offers a beautiful 360° view of Prague, inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris in 1891.

Info for editors:

The current form of stops, platforms, and railway structures is not part of this competition. Neither is the actual production of the vehicles. DPP will issue a separate public procurement for that, based on the winning design proposal or the study prepared by the designer.

The competition task is drawn up based on the contracting authority's requirements according to current applicable standards ČSN, ČSN EN, and legislative regulations of the Czech Republic and the EU.

The Petřín cable car (LD) has been historically divided into three life stages:

1. 1891–1920, powered by water power; line length 396.5 m; passenger capacity 50 people.
2. 1932–1965, electrification of the drive; line length 511 m; passenger capacity 105 people.
3. 1985 – present, automation of the drive; line length 510.4 m; passenger capacity 100 people.

The construction of the cable car began as early as 1890. The main reason for building the cable car was the need to transport passengers to the newly built Petřín Lookout Tower. The initial year-round operation was adjusted after four years to operate outside of winter months due to problems with freezing water. Cable car operations were interrupted at the beginning of World War I. Despite efforts for permanent restoration of operations, the cable car operated only sporadically during the following years. Due to the post-war economic situation and a lack of water, a power source, operations were permanently terminated in 1920.

The cable car resumed operations in 1932 due to the necessity of transportation service at the "Czechoslovak Spartakiad." It was modernized, electrified, and the control system provided a semi-automatic mode. A unique globally recognized safety braking system called "braking on cable" with a wedge brake and an atypical Abt switch for passing cars was installed. Operations were only halted due to bad weather when first in 1965, groundwater accumulation created a cavern beneath the rail in the switch area, causing part of the line to sink by about 20 cm. During the preparation period for repairs in 1967, excessive rainfall resulted in the saturation of the entire Petřín slope, especially in the Nebozízek area, where there was a massive landslide. This damaged 80% of the line, including the rails, and operations were permanently interrupted. To ensure the overall stability of Petřín Hill, extensive remediation was necessary in the following years. The idea of restoring the cable car operations was continuously worked on.

The primary impulse for the reopening of the cable car was the organization of the Czechoslovak Spartakiad in 1985. Operations began in June of that year on a newly constructed line with refurbished modern-looking vehicles. The cable car was incorporated into the Prague public transportation system, in which it continues to operate to this day.

About the Prague Public Transit Company

The Prague Public Transit Company (DPP) is the largest carrier providing public transportation in the Czech Republic. It operates a total of 142 bus lines, 1 trolleybus line, as well as 26 daytime,

9 night tram lines, and 3 metro lines. As of July 1, 2021, DPP owned 1,188 buses, 1 trolleybus, 811 trams, and 146 metro train sets. The company had a total of 11,192 employees as of January 1, 2021, including 4,379 public transport drivers. The only shareholder of DPP is the City of Prague. More information about DPP can be found at dpp.cz.