Omar Harb

advisor

USEK - Holy spirit University of Kaslik

Lebanon

As an architect and founder of Omar Harb Architects & Associates, my work centers on creating… more

Project ID 9175, titled "Nová obytná čtvrť Praha - Sedlec" (New Residential District Prague - Sedlec) by Kristýna Burešová, is an ambitious urban design project. It tackles a complex site characterized by extreme topography (rocks and terrain breaks), industrial heritage (a chimney and underground reservoir), and significant ecological value (the Vltava Canyon).

The design transitions from a dense, high-rise "urban" northeast to a low-rise, fragmented "natural" southwest. Here is an evaluation and targeted suggestions to strengthen the project for the Inspireli jury.

1. Project Evaluation
A. Site Connectivity and "The Biobridge"

Strengths: The concept of the "biobridge" and extending the western greenery along the southern edge is excellent. It shows a deep respect for the Podbabská Rocks natural monument. Connecting fragmented greenery into a continuous ecological corridor is a high-priority "green" urbanism strategy that jurors look for.

Critical Review: While the biobridge is mentioned, the jury will look for its viability. Is it a wide, integrated landscape feature, or just a narrow strip of grass? If the railway line in the east remains a "hard" barrier, the "bio-connectivity" might feel incomplete.

B. Topographical Drama (The "Basin" Overspill)

Strengths: The idea of tower buildings with pedestals "spilling over" the terrain edge into the eastern basin is a bold architectural gesture. It uses the site's most difficult feature as its greatest thematic asset.

Critical Review: This is a high-risk, high-reward move. Building on steep terrain breaks raises questions about structural logic and shadowing. If the towers are 16 stories high at the edge of a basin, they may cast massive shadows on the public spaces below, potentially making the "basin" feel cold or unwelcoming.

C. Heritage Integration

Strengths: Preserving the heating plant chimney and the underground reservoir gives the new district a "DNA" and a sense of history. Using the chimney as a focal point for public space is a classic, successful urban design move.

I. Refine the "Spillover" Section (Technical Depth)
Suggestion: The jury will be skeptical of 16-story towers on a terrain break.

Refinement: Provide a Detailed Site Section through the basin. Show how the "pedestals" of the towers manage the height difference. Do they contain parking? Are they accessible public terraces? If you can show that the pedestals act as a "staircase" for pedestrians to descend the terrain break, you turn a structural necessity into a social benefit.

II. Micro-Climate and Noise Mitigation
Suggestion: You mentioned greenery as a noise barrier for Kamýcká Street.

Refinement: Move beyond "adding trees." Urban noise requires mass. Propose a "Residential Noise Buffer" building typology—perhaps a continuous block with single-orientation apartments (living spaces facing the quiet interior, circulation/storage facing the road). This shows the jury you understand the technical reality of living next to a busy Prague artery.

III. The Underground Reservoir: The "Hidden" Layer
Suggestion: The underground reservoir is a unique site feature.

Refinement: Don't just "preserve" it; reactivate it. Could it become an underground cultural center, a water-retention basin for the new district (Sponge City concept), or a unique subterranean library? Highlighting the "adaptive reuse" of a hidden structure is a very sophisticated way to score points in the Urban Design category.

IV. Urban Fabric Hierarchy
Suggestion: The project uses blocks, point buildings, and towers.

Refinement: Clearly define the "Public vs. Private" realm. In Prague, the "Block" traditionally has a private courtyard. Ensure your renders and plans clearly show where a visitor is welcome and where a resident has privacy. If the "Main Square" is meant to be a heart, show how the school and library spill their activities into that square (e.g., outdoor reading areas, school playgrounds that become public parks after hours).

V. Visual Presentation (The "Prague View" Render)
Refinement: Since you mentioned a "viewing trail along the edge," your hero render should be from a human-eye perspective on that trail, looking across the Vltava Canyon toward the city. This helps the jury "feel" the height and the connection to the landscape.
21.01.2026