<p>Praha 8 wants to renovate Elsnic Square near the Palace of Light</p>

Elsnicovo náměstí source: maps.google.com

Prague - Prague 8 plans to carry out an extensive renovation of Elsnicovo náměstí, which is adjacent to the heritage-protected Palace Svět. A café will be established there, new benches will be installed, and the bed of the Rokytka creek, currently covered, will be made accessible. This was reported today by the spokesperson for Prague 8, Radka Wallace. The city hall aims to start repairs, which will cost around 25 million crowns, in the spring of 2013, and they should last about six months.
According to the city hall, the purpose of the repairs is to restore the Rokytka creek bed to its original form. "Covering a larger part of the stream created an undefined space that is neither a square nor, for example, a park. Our effort is to remove this artificial concrete covering and bring back the atmosphere of flowing water," said the deputy mayor of Prague 8, Michal Šustr (TOP 09).
The reconstruction of the square was originally intended to connect with the renovation of the dilapidated Palace Svět. Šustr told ČTK that the owner of the palace is not progressing with the repairs as quickly as the city hall had envisioned. Therefore, the city hall is considering taking some legal action against the owner. He did not want to specify what kind. "Lawyers are currently considering this," he told ČTK.
The proposal for the reconstruction of the square was prepared for the city hall by the A05 studio of garden and landscape architecture and Šépka architects. The architects proposed grids in front of Palace Svět to allow views of the Rokytka watercourse. Several water elements will be incorporated into the square. "I assume that children will especially appreciate this solution, as they can use a screw mechanism to send water into tubes placed directly in the square," said the deputy mayor.
The space above the Rokytka will be defined on one side by stairs, from which it will be possible to observe the course of the creek through periscopes. There is also consideration for a direct descent to the water. On the opposite side of the square, a bridge will be built, which will house a café. This café will also be suitable for holding more intimate concerts, theater performances, or literary evenings.
The architects prepared the proposal in three variants, which, according to Šustr, will be published at the turn of November and December. Residents will then be able to decide which variant will be selected.