Prague Public Transit Company selected the architect for the metro

Prague – The appearance of the metro, including the planned new line D, is now the responsibility of architect Anna Švarc at the Prague Public Transit Company (DPP). As the company stated in a press release, she succeeded in the selection process. The city is gradually announcing architectural competitions for the design of new stations; the architect will sit on their juries and oversee the realization of the resulting designs. She will also be responsible for the appearance of existing stations and vestibules and their reconstruction. Geological surveys for the construction of line D from Pankrác to Písnice began this year, with the construction expected to cost 57 billion.

Švarc will collaborate with the original architects and authors of the artworks that the city and DPP want to place in the new stations. At the same time, she will take care of existing artworks and issue expert opinions on the emerging stations as well as the reconstruction of existing ones. She will also oversee the design of the information and navigation system in the metro and the commercial use of the vestibules.

According to DPP General Director Petr Witowský, a similar position has been lacking in the company so far. "In connection with the preparation for the construction of metro line D and the reconstruction of existing stations, we at DPP have missed an expert with whom we could consult on the architectural, aesthetic, and simultaneously functional aspects of shaping the public spaces of the metro, as well as a person who could represent DPP in the juries of artistic competitions and advocate for our demands," he stated. Deputy Mayor Adam Scheinherr (Prague Sobě) added that, in addition to speed and reliability, it is also important for people to feel good in public transport.

According to information from the company, Švarc has experience with similar work; for example, she prepared a design manual for the London Underground system. She came to DPP from the city Institute of Planning and Development (IPR), having previously worked in various foreign studios, particularly in London, where she collaborated with architect Eva Jiřičná. In August, the company also filled the position of project manager for the new D route. Helena Křížová, who previously held the same position during the construction of the metro in Dubai, became the new manager.

In July, Prague presented the first winners of the artistic competition for the planned D metro stations. The Pankrác station will feature an artwork by Jakub Nepraš, while Vladimír Kokolia will decorate the Olbrachtova station. Competitions are expected to continue in the fall and next spring. Thousands of people had previously petitioned for architectural competitions for the overall design of all stations of the new line, but the city did not want to interfere with the already approved project. Ultimately, the competitions will only be organized for the artistic design of the station interiors while preserving the original designs of Metroprojekt.

In the first phase, line D will be constructed between Pankrác, Nové Dvory, and will extend to the Písnice Depot, where driverless trains will operate. A section from Pankrác to Náměstí Míru is planned for the future. The investor for the construction is DPP.