The architects have withdrawn from the work on the documentation for the zone in Jičín

Jičín - The group of architects Klára Novotná, Karel Novotný, Tereza Mirská, and Jiří Neuvirt has withdrawn from the preparation of project documentation for the construction of a recreational zone Cidlina in Jičín due to a disagreement over price. The group won the architectural competition for the design of the zone last year. The city will therefore approach the Prague studio Rehwaldt Landscape Architects, which finished second in the architectural competition, to prepare the documentation. This was stated to journalists today by Deputy Mayor Petr Hamáček (Association for Jičín).

By winning the architectural competition, the team around Klára Novotná gained the right to contract with the city for the project documentation of all stages through a negotiated procedure without publication. The price was set in advance at a maximum of 2.8 million Czech crowns excluding VAT. "However, the winning team made demands that would lead to an increase in costs beyond the stated value. This is not possible given the Public Procurement Act," said city spokesman Jan Jireš. According to him, the architects then decided to withdraw from the negotiations.

Despite the complication with the selection of the designer, the city's intention to build a recreational zone along the Cidlina River remains, according to Hamáček. "We will contact the next in line and see if we can reach an agreement," said Hamáček. The city hall estimates a delay of two months. The idea of creating a recreational zone in the area around Cidlina originated in Jičín as early as 2000.

The zone is to be created in a currently unused area between the Nové Město housing estate and the Cidlina River, not far from industrial plants. The transformation of the location is to be gradual and is expected to take several years. The area is particularly important for the residents of the Nové Město estate, which has no park or public greenery. The costs for establishing a recreational zone of about 7.5 hectares are estimated by the city at 40 million crowns.

The Cidlina zone is to include, for example, a walking trail and park, play areas and playgrounds for children and adults, a dog park, a pump track for cycling, several bridges and footbridges, rest areas, a skatepark, an outdoor cinema, barbecue corners, a track for inline skating, and a hill for sledding.