Žďár nad Sázavou

Project idea

The proposal is based on the existing structure of the area and follows its scale, character and relationship to the Sázava River. The current development is mainly made up of apartment buildings along Dolní Street with a height of 8 floors, while towards the river the development level is gradually reduced to 6 and 5 floors. This principle of height gradation is maintained in the proposal and further developed in order to support the permeability of the area, good sunlight and visual contact with the river. The proposal aims to complete and close the existing city blocks, thereby supplementing unused or spatially unclearly defined places and creating a more legible urban structure. The new development respects the existing street lines and creates clearly defined public, semi-private and private spaces. The courtyards are designed as quiet residential areas with greenery and facilities for residents. A significant element of the design is the transformation of the existing parking lot into a multifunctional building in the shape of a triangle. The building combines the functions of parking, administration and housing. The 1st and 2nd floors contain parking, which effectively replaces and increases the current capacity and at the same time minimizes the burden on public space with cars. The second floor is intended for administrative use and creates a transition between the active ground floor and residential function. The higher floors contain housing, the volume of which continues with the surrounding development and completes the street front. Towards the river, a new residential development is designed to complement and close the block structure. This part of the area also includes a kindergarten, which responds to the needs of the newly emerging residential district and strengthens the civic amenities of the locality. The massing of the buildings respects the proximity of the river and gradually reduces the scale of the development towards the embankment.
An important part of the urban planning concept is the creation of a new floodplain and river spa following the flow of the Sázava. The proposal strengthens the city's relationship with the river and makes the riverbank accessible to the public in the form of residential staircases, a promenade and recreational areas.
The river spa develops the recreational potential of the area and creates an attractive public space supporting the daily use and
leisure activities of the residents. Overall, the proposal strives to connect the urban environment with the river landscape and to create a high-quality, lively and functionally diverse urban district.

Project description

HOUSING
The proposed solution develops the existing residential structure and sensitively follows the character of the surrounding development along Dolní Street.
The urban concept maintains the principle of gradual lowering of the height towards the Sázava River - from the more dominant 8-storey development at the northern edge of the area to lower 6- to 5-storey buildings in contact with the riverbank. This ensures high-quality sunlight, a better microclimate and a visual connection with the river.
The design complements and closes the existing city blocks, thus creating a defined urban structure with a clear division of public, semi-private and private spaces.
The courtyards are designed as quiet residential gardens with greenery, pedestrian paths, play elements and places for residents to relax. The new residential development towards the river complements the street fronts and at the same time respects the scale of the riverbank environment.
A significant element is a new multifunctional building with a triangular ground plan that combines housing, administration and parking. The residential function on the higher floors follows the surrounding development with its volume and helps to complete the urban character of the site.
TRANSPORT
The transport solution is based on the existing communication network and aims to calm the public space within the area. The main car service is guided along the existing roads, which are being reconstructed. While the inner parts of the area are more oriented towards pedestrian and residential use. The key transport element is the transformation of the existing surface parking lot into a multifunctional building with integrated parking on the 1st and 1st floors. This solution allows for the effective replacement and increase of parking capacities without further burdening public spaces with cars. At the same time, there is a reduction in the size of large paved areas and the cultivation of public space. Traffic calming is proposed on Dolní Street using dividing islands, road profile adjustments and the addition of linear greenery. Tree rows and vegetation belts contribute not only to slowing down traffic, but also to improving the microclimate and quality of public space. The solution also includes the addition of cycle lanes integrated into the sidewalk area, which support the safe movement of cyclists and better connection of the area with the surroundings. Libušínská Street is newly designed as a one-way road with entrances to the underground parking of new structures. This arrangement allows for reducing traffic loads and creating a higher quality public space. The design here includes a greater proportion of greenery, expanded pedestrian areas and natural slowing down of traffic through the width of the road and residential elements. The street is designed primarily for pedestrian and cyclist movement, thus supporting a safe and comfortable environment for everyday use by residents. A network of pedestrian routes connects the individual residential blocks, amenities and the waterfront. An important part of the design is a new connection towards the river via a promenade and embankment, which support pedestrian movement and recreational use of the area. New access roads and residential stairs to the water have also been added.
GREENERY
Greenery is one of the main compositional and residential elements of the design. The concept preserves a high proportion of vegetation in the area and further develops it in the form of park areas, tree lines, residential lawns and green courtyards. A continuous recreational strip with an embankment, promenade and river spa is created along the river, which connects the urban environment with the landscape of the Sázava. The design strengthens residents' access to water and creates an attractive public space for everyday recreation and leisure activities. The courtyards of the residential buildings are designed as semi-public gardens with a high proportion of greenery, playgrounds and relaxation areas. The tree-lined avenue along the roads improves the microclimate, supports rainwater infiltration and contributes to the quality of the public space. Overall, the design aims to create a green residential district with a smooth transition between the city and the river landscape.
FACILITIES
The design complements the area with new civic amenities that meet the needs of the developing residential district. The new development towards the river includes a kindergarten, which strengthens the local infrastructure and supports the daily availability of services for residents. The multifunctional triangular building combines parking, administration and housing, thus bringing a wider range of functions to the area and supporting its all-day use. The administrative floor creates an active transition between the public ground floor and the residential function. Public recreational spaces along the river – a promenade, residential stairs and a river spa – are also an important part of the amenities. These elements expand the possibilities for sports, relaxation and social life and strengthen the identity of the place in relation to the Sázava River. Overall, the design creates a functionally diverse urban district with high-quality public space and good accessibility to services.

Technical information

The planned area has a total area of ​​14.46 ha and is designed as a balanced urban structure with an emphasis on a quality ratio between built-up and open areas. The built-up area makes up approximately 35% of the area, whereby the design follows the character of the surrounding urban development while preserving sufficient space for public spaces and greenery. Paved areas make up 29% of the area and include roads, sidewalks, residential areas and public spaces. A significant proportion is made up of vegetation areas, which occupy 38% of the planned area and represent one of the main qualitative elements of the design. The area also includes water areas and elements linked to the Sázava River, which make up approximately 7% of the area and strengthen the recreational and landscape character of the site. The design includes a total of 632 housing units, which complement the existing residential structure and create the conditions for the creation of a lively and functionally diverse urban district. Traffic at rest is mainly handled within the underground and integrated parking capacities. The proposal includes a total of 636 parking spaces, which are concentrated mainly in multifunctional buildings and underground garages. This solution minimizes the amount of surface parking and allows for the release of public space for pedestrian, green and residential functions.

Documentation

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