Schindler's Legacy Village

Project idea

El proyecto tiene como objetivo crear un espacio que satisfaga las necesidades locales de los residentes de Brnenec, considerando al mismo tiempo el importante hito regional de la fábrica de Oskar Schindler. Comprender el significado histórico de la fábrica fue fundamental. La topografía local orientó el desarrollo para llenar el vacío urbano dejado por el derrumbe de partes de la fábrica. El área ubicada de forma central, con excelentes conexiones de transporte, es ideal para un centro local con una aldea residencial sostenible independiente. El concepto incluye un eje urbano desde la parte sur hasta la Plaza Oskar Schindler en el norte. A lo largo de este eje, hay varias plazas, algunas más accesibles para personas externas que otras. Una zona de amortiguamiento verde separa claramente las áreas públicas y privadas, y sirve como espacio para eventos locales. El eje tiene ramificaciones en direcciones clave fuera del ámbito del proyecto. En el norte, el camino principal se divide en dos: uno que conduce a través de un woonerf verde entre los edificios existentes, y el otro a través de una nave revitalizada, ambos terminando en la Plaza Oskar Schindler.

Project description

The project involves creating a space that addresses the local needs of Brnenec residents, while also considering the location of a very important landmark in the entire region: Oskar Schindler's factory. An important aspect of the entire concept was understanding the history related to the factory's activities. The topography of the immediate vicinity clearly defined the way we should shape and complement the urban fabric, which, due to the collapse of parts of the factory, has left a significant gap in the town's development. The central location of the area, with close connections to rail and road transport, is ideally suited for a local center with a suitably separated sustainable residential village. In our concept, we created an urban axis running from the southern part to Oskar Schindler Square in the northern part. Along the entire axis, there are squares that are more or less accessible to people from outside the village. A green buffer zone clearly marks the boundary between the public and private areas, while also serving as a space for local events for Brnenec residents. The urban axis connecting the whole has diverging paths in important directions that are beyond our scope of work. In the northern part, the main path splits into two main paths. One leads through a green woonerf between the existing halls, which we plan to develop in the future with similar functions to the currently revitalized Schindler factories, and the other leads through the revitalized hall, integrating it into the entire urban plan. Both paths end at the most historically significant point: Oskar Schindler Square.

Technical information

The project is exceptionally sustainable in terms of the technical solutions applied, incorporating numerous ecological measures that have a tangible impact on the lives of the area's users. Primarily, the project employs tall greenery as buffer zones between public, semi-public, and private spaces, while maintaining a high percentage of biologically active surfaces. The woonerf running through the entire area emphasizes our approach to urban design details. Each building is designed with a unique material, distinct from the surrounding structures, to highlight the typology of the urban layout. This allows each resident to feel the uniqueness of their home and strengthen their sense of identity with it. Some residential buildings feature green roofs, while others are equipped with solar panels, reducing CO2 emissions and reversing the situation the town faced during the factory operations in the same area. Parking areas in the outer zones are equipped with permeable surfaces. The revitalization of the Svitava River, flowing along our area, is a key element of the entire project. We aimed to ensure that the project provides maximum access to the revitalized river, allowing the two spaces to interconnect. To achieve this, we placed functions such as an amphitheater, footbridges crossing to the other side of the river, and paths running along its course.