How not to forget? And what not to forget? Do we have to remember?

We believe that in case of the city part of Vydrica the answer to these questions is contained in the act of revitalisation. What is the best way to remember people and houses if not after years returning to the same place. Life. People. Motion. City. Square. Street. Encounter.

The central idea of our solution for the town block V4 and its adjuscent water tower is the creation of a central space for a whole new area, which will be central not only by its priviledged centrally located position but also by its programme.

In the second competition’s round we have decided not only to detail face and shape of the square, but also to focus more deeply on V4 building (its content, functionality and appearance) as well as on V41 building.

Regarding the buildings, we were looking for a material-functional purpose of the facade and its program. We have also designed, from our point of view, the best solution for the pedestrian bridge and the pavilion built there over. These three units – the buildings, pedestrian bridge - park and the square – forum – are closely inter-connected and altogether creating the main and central „junction“of the new quarter. They do not endanger each other nor be rivals, that they are complementary and communicating with each other.

V4 - CHANGE MEANS LIFE.

The residential block with shops and with a fitness centre does not represent typical noble houses in the square. It is the dominant of the square, but it does not compete with it. Three floors with flats are, thanks to shield moving panels, sparkling just as the river in front of them and let the building to change its face. It is because the change means LIFE. In the night or in the day, when the sun is shining or when it is perhaps cloudy. The line of flats merges into the green castle’s hill; in fact it is going on recessed floors with greenful terraces.

The given building fully corresponds with the land planning documentation of the zone; we paid our attention to its functional-disposition contents and to its South-oriented facade with residential premises there behind.
We wish the facade to be reflecting the change relating to the whole quarter as well as the presence of such a strong element as the Danube certainly is. This concept is supplemented by two requirements related to the south facade of the residential house in the square – shadow and intimacy. Have a chance to be open or to be closed, to be hidden or to be visible. Let the sun enter or let it slide down the facade. We wish to give the house and its inhabitants a chance for change. Such a change, which would be also reflected on the facade.

The facade system consists of perforated white panels, which can be folded to the sides, if necessary. Their perforation enlarges towards the height of eye of sitting or standing person. There is then created a larger view space as well as a larger space for contacts with exterior even if the panels are closed. The enlargement of perforations differs from a panel to panel – the facade is then suffering from a „waving“ and moiré effects suggestive of water. The change and the river – two essential elements of the building concept. However, panels play their „role“ even after being folded and open: their color sides make color lines on the facade.
The disposition of the most part of the building is pre-determined by LPZ as well as by the light-technical situation. We were attempting to locate as many commercial premises as possible on the base floor and on the 1st floor with concentration of leisure-time activities mainly in the square sapce and in the space, which cannot be used otherwise due to their orientation towards the castle’s hill.
In order to get a larger floor space accessible directly from the street at the level of the 1st underground floor, we have located the stairway next to the gang-board in front of the building; we have thus gain one more piece of street space. We have also located a green atrium between the buildings V4 and V41 at the level of the 1st underground floor, which enables us to gain more floor space directly connected with the public space.

Entrance to the leisure-time activity premises – fitness and sauna with a small pool – is located on the 1st floor. We have used the spaces oriented towards the Castle Hill Path, located between the 1st floor and the 4th floor which are lighted naturally thanks to the system of galleries and recessed floors.

The pedestrian bridge - BRIDGEPARK

We perceive the promenade at the embankment of Gen. L. Svoboda as a linear park bordered by water and a green line with very strong potential and perspective, which shall become an important and attractive pedestrian channel, especially after completion of surrounding new buildings. That is why our pedestrian bridge is an important inter-connection between the park – promenade and the new central square. We have located a nose of the promenade park on the inter-connection plateau, which makes the park’s extension roughly entering the space of the new square. The pavilion located there over was moved from the edge of the bridge towards its midpoint and „sunk“ into the green. Car drivers driving under the bridge can see the green park in particular.

The square – FORUM

The square going out of the BRIDGEPARK merges with the Water Tower area in a large FORUM : a meeting point, a place to linger, to sit down and watch the people and the river, place to come to see a concert or do shopping on the market. May it be flowers or fruit, according to the season. The lower level of the square from the Riverbank Road is gradually rising and through a staircase = auditorium reaches the level of the pedestrian bridge and the V4 block. Like the hill, it is rising towards the castle.

The Water Tower - WATER TOWER

We think that Water tower should be a visible part and the dominant of the whole square. This was one of the reasons why we opened its space at South-East and also at South-West side and in this way „let“ the public space in. The square doesn’t go around, now they create one space. Original form of the tower, however, stays at the level of allusive symbolic reconstruction as a band of light. In the same way we are reminded of octagonal tower from the 13th century at the West side.

Entrance area of the Museum of Archeology is situated in the underground Water Tower complex. Continual view of the preserved walling is enabled by a new communication area at the level of the 3rd underground floor.

Vydrica Competition

Section plan