Theses 2019 - Price of Czech Centers

School: Faculty of Art and Architecture, Technical University of Liberec
Supervisor: Jiří Klokočka

The city of Děčín has been struggling with a decline in population since 1989, making it a typical example of a shrinking city. The city has many qualities and untapped potentials but lacks a cohesive vision for its development. Therefore, I set forth a vision for the city's development that perceives the aspect of shrinkage as a potential.
In the master plan, I delineate the built-up area that is key to the functioning of Děčín. I connect the existing built-up areas and strengthen them with development zones that utilize the principles of linear development and maximize their impact on public space and urban structure within limited investment resources. Urban fragments are thus interconnected through development zones into a single entity.
I propose a new network of parks that functions as the green network of the city. These will surround the existing urban cores and connect Děčín with the surrounding landscape, allowing the city to truly become a city in nature and mountains. The parks will include running trails, cycling paths, and playgrounds. Děčín will thus become a city of leisure activities and sports.
I delineate demolition areas for external shrinkage. A key characteristic of a shrinking city is an appropriate size that reduces the costs of the city. Settlements far from the city center are downsized and become the original villages, which can function as independent settlements. At the same time, residents from these areas can move to settlements closer to the center and maintain their density at an appropriate level.
Furthermore, I define degradation areas that lead to internal shrinkage. These are brownfields in the city center that will undergo uncontrolled destruction. With the transition to new sectors and the inability to navigate the Elbe, there will be a decline in industry, and factories in the city center will likely disappear. However, this will present an opportunity for the gradual reclamation of the land and its transformation into a forest. To prevent isolated islands of reclaimed greenery from forming within the city, a network of parks is established to connect the green islands and create an integrated inner city landscape.