The winning design deals with the revitalization of the village of Český Jiřetín in Krušné Hory mountains, the students of the Master's programme developed it in the Efler - Studio of Vernacular Architecture at the Institute of Heritage Conservation of the Czech Technical University. The second prize was awarded to a team of students from the BME Faculty of Architecture for their project for the rehabilitation of a problematic part of the centre of Budapest. The third prize was awarded to a proposal for the development of an area near the Danube River that works with the legacy of industrial heritage.
All the awarded projects are a mosaic of inspiring approaches to settlement development. They show how to tackle congested centres and how to harness the transformative potential of riverside areas. The winning proposal is an example of a sensitive approach to rural development, which has been under enormous pressure for many years. "The authors do not just propose new housing developments, but also emphasise the development of amenities, including employment opportunities, and do not neglect the environmental issues of landscape development, contemporary agriculture and water management. All this with respect for the original spirit of the place," the jury agreed on the merits of the winning project
The jury, composed of experts from all participating countries and teachers from selected universities, evaluated a total of 59 proposals in two rounds, with 18 advancing to the second round. The jury chairman, Ders Csaba from the Polish Association of Urban Planners, pointed out the significant contribution of the competition and student projects in general. "Despite the fact that they may seem to be diverse assignments, all the projects submitted address real problems of contemporary cities. This is also why the selected projects may seem so familiar and relevant to us."
The Urban Design Award competition is announced annually by the Institute of Spatial Planning of the Faculty of Architecture of the Czech Technical University in Prague with its main partner, the Association for Urbanism and Spatial Planning of the Czech Republic. The competition is open to all full-time students of the co-organising universities from the Visegrad Four countries. The partners of the competition are the national associations of urban planners.
Results of 26th annual Urban design award
- 1st PRIZE: Restoration of a village in Krušne hory mountains; Kateřina Tomsová, Vojtěch Palm, Faculty of Architecture, Czech Technical University in Prague
- 2. CENA: Bridge - Distopes; Márton Szelényi, Gréta Berente, Tamás Holcsek, Örs Korompay, Mária Szecsei, Faculty of Architecture, BME in Budapest
- 3. CENA: Riverside Collage; Fruzsina Kovács, Anna Zsanda, Fakulty of Architecture, BME in Budapest
- AWARD: Waterfront Accupuncture_Bluefield of River Váh; Zuzana Mihaľov, Faculty of Architecture and Design STU in Bratislava
- AWARD: Waterfront Acupuncture - Bluefield of River Váh, Natália Marková, Faculty of Architecture and Design STU in Bratislava
- AWARD: Cheb: Beyond city walls; Barbora Havelcová, Faculty of Architecture, Czech Technical University in Prague
1. Prize
Author´s report
The proposal deals with the revitalization of the village of Český Jiřetín, both in terms of urban planning and landscape. The whole concept of the proposal respects the preservation of historical values and builds on them. This includes, in particular, the restoration of the linear layout of the village with plots along the roads, the connection with the surrounding landscape, the choice of materials and woods used and the creation of new jobs, again inspired by the former use of the environment.
Jury evaluation
The jury appreciated the perceptive, contextual and holistic approach to local development planning. The authors did not only propose new residential development, but also paid attention to the growth of local public services and employment opportunities, the development of a system of public spaces, building forms and material design.
2. Prize
Author´s report
Throughout the semester, we were encouraged to imagine the future of Budapest in 2050 through stories and scenarios. I might point out that we took a somewhat unorthodox approach to the topic. Contrary to usual practice, our team did not intend to predict a highly positive future full of prosperity in order to address it, but rather painted a more pessimistic and dystopian picture in an attempt to analyse what the city should refrain from doing.
Jury evaluation
The aim of the students was to renovate the public spaces of a neighbourhood with complex social facilities. They wanted to create a spatial structure that would provide opportunities for meeting and social interaction. They did not think in rigid architectural forms, but rather in an open architecture that carries the potential of free form and flexibility.
3. Prize
Author´s report
Our design area possess industrial heritage that we were very interested in, so we wanted to incorporate some of its elements and combine them with a sustainable and ecological concept. We designed buildings that can be easily integrated into the industrial environment and at the same time can create order in this otherwise unsystematic area.
Jury evaluation
The project is very strong in the first and in Jury´s opinion really important phase, the analysis. The analysis is clear, really understandable and describes the situation, problems, positives and potentials of the territory. The proposed intervention in the area is a well crafted work of this type of project.
1. Award
Author´s report
The aim of the proposal for the regeneration of the Trenčín city waterfront was the renewal and activation of public spaces in relation to the Váh waterfront and also the regeneration of existing urban structures. In other words, to give life back to the river.
Jury evaluation
The main idea of the urban design is to cleverly use a series of "acupuncture" projects along the river that have different atmospheres and desired effects. These acupuncture points are then all used together to create one compelling vision of a large area in an interesting project that blurs the boundaries between urban and landscape design.
2. Award
Author´s report
The task was to transform the city of Trenčín in terms of different scales. City and region, City and zone, City and waterfront, City and public spaces.
Jury evaluation
The project carefully analyses the possibilities of transforming the belt along the Váh River in Trenčín city. The jury particularly appreciated two aspects of the work. The first is the multi-stage approach. It consists in assessing the problem on a regional and urban scale. The second valuable aspect is the apparent modesty of the intervention.
3. Award
Author´s report
The search and rediscovery of the boundaries between the modern and the historic city is the main theme of this assignment. The result is a series of interventions located along the historic ring of city walls.
Jury evaluation
While some of her design decisions may be questionable, her personal approach and perspective make her project one of the best in this competition.
Designs and photography (Photography: Zuzana Poláková)
