Public spaces in the university campus in Prague's Dejvice will be improved

Prague - Public spaces in the university campus in the Dejvice district of Prague will be modified to be more accessible for students and other residents of Prague. The campus between Evropská Street and Jugoslávských partyzánů Street in Prague 6 will undergo revitalization according to a concept prepared for the Institute of Planning and Development of the Capital City of Prague (IPR) by the architectural studio MCA led by Pavla Melková and Miroslav Cikán. The city council approved the concept on Monday.

The Dejvice campus in Prague 6 houses the Czech Technical University (ČVUT), the University of Chemistry and Technology (VŠCHT), Charles University (UK), the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (AV ČR), and the National Technical Library. However, the current appearance of the campus is inadequate, according to the approved concept. People perceive the individual parts of the public space in the university area as separate, and thus the campus does not fulfill its role. At the same time, the public currently has few reasons to visit the campus area, and students are not motivated to spend their time there outside of classes.

The planned modifications should change this. The buildings of the universities and libraries will be more open to people. New student clubs, cafés, and similar establishments are proposed on their ground floors to support the campus's communal function. Stages are to be created in front of the buildings, where exhibitions, lectures, or debates can be held, thereby showcasing the activities of the respective institution. Larger events will also be able to take place in an area called Tabula. It is intended to serve as a universal outdoor public platform for meetings, which will also have a symbolic role and represent the shared spirit of the campus. Green spaces and new sports facilities will attract people to spend time in the campus area.

The entry of people into the campus will be signaled by new artworks at the symbolic gates to the area, unified street furniture such as benches, lighting, and tables, as well as the design of sidewalks and roads. Special priority will be given to pedestrian movement around the area; therefore, sidewalks will be widened and will seamlessly connect to the roads without barriers. Transportation services will be adjusted, with limited parking options in the area and the creation of pedestrian zones. For example, it should no longer be possible to park on Technická Street, and entry into part of Studentská Street should be prohibited.

In 2015, the ČVUT, VŠCHT, UK, the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry AV ČR, and NTK signed a memorandum with Prague 6, aiming to cultivate the public space of the campus and develop educational and cultural activities within it. The memorandum was approved by Prague, and the council tasked IPR in 2019 to develop a revitalization concept for the campus. The final project for the modifications of the campus based on the approved concept will be prepared by the city hall in collaboration with IPR and the Prague Technical Road Administration by 2023. The city hall will still negotiate the funding for the revitalization of the campus in Dejvice with the involved institutions.