The chief architect of Č. Budějovice will be Jan Němec

České Budějovice - České Budějovice will have a Chief Architect starting in January. The commission selected him on the third attempt. They began searching for him back in 2011. Most recently, they approached five specific personalities and published a call on the internet. Of the three architects who responded to the offer, the jury selected sixty-two-year-old graduate of ČVUT and co-owner of the architectural studio AR18, Jan Němec. This was announced to reporters today by Deputy Mayor Ivana Popelová (OPB).
    "The Chief Architect will operate as an external consultant. The four-member Office of the Chief Architect will provide service activities and ensure regular administrative tasks," Popelová stated. If the remaining candidates do not appeal the commission's decision, the city will sign a contract with Němec starting January 2014.
    Němec intends to divide the department's activities into three agendas: one focused on representing the city in zoning proceedings and issuing opinions, the second on urban planning concepts, and the third on transportation and technical infrastructure.
    Němec impressed the commission with his vision to delineate the natural boundaries of the city's developed area and create a predominantly green ring around it. He wants to restore the city's function and the value of properties in the center. He aims to support small shops. The left-bank residential city, which has a population comparable to a district town, wants to become a distinct and viable quarter. He wants to process regulatory plans more carefully, better coordinate transportation and parking, and prevent industrial buildings from being constructed on greenfields.
    According to Popelová, while the current urban plan addresses these areas, the councilors often face pressures from investors for changes. "For investors, it is often easier to build on greenfields than to complete the central city or renovate existing buildings. The city hopes that the Chief Architect will be able to counter these pressures better and will have enough authority to convince the council against approving changes to the urban plan," the deputy mayor stated.
    Not all regional cities have Chief Architects. The offices of Chief Architects have different competencies.