Prague Castle is seeking designers and architects to create new checkpoints at the entrances to the grounds. The Castle Administration is collaborating with the Institute for City Planning and Development of Prague (IPR) on this project.
The Castle Administration is looking for designers and architects to design new checkpoints at the entrances to the Castle grounds. The administration is working with the Institute for City Planning and Development of the City of Prague (IPR) for this purpose. The winning design will be selected by an expert jury at the start of the summer. The new checkpoints are to be more aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly for both visitors and security personnel.
“Millions of visitors and high-ranking state guests pass through the Castle gates annually. We want the checkpoints to reflect the significance of this place. The current shelters were hastily built in 2016. They are made of wood, which is now decaying, and do not offer adequate functionality – for example, they lack shade. The new constructions should be discreet, aesthetically pleasing, mobile, and more inviting for both the police officers who spend long hours there and the visitors,” explains Pavel Vyhnánek, Director of the Prague Castle Administration, regarding the reasons for the competition.
The competition for designing the new shelters is the first architectural design competition held by the Prague Castle Administration in nearly 30 years. Two more are expected to follow next year: one for the planned renovation of the historic Chotkovy Park and another for the new external lighting of the Castle.
The collaboration between the Prague Castle Administration and the IPR stems from the overlapping responsibilities between the Castle grounds and the city. “We welcome the efforts of Prague Castle to improve the comfort for visitors entering the area. The expert jury consists of renowned professionals. The interest of the jury alone shows that this issue has long been neglected, despite being crucial for the perception of the Castle,” says Ondřej Boháč, Director of the IPR (Institut plánování a rozvoje hlavního města Prahy).
The proposals will be evaluated by a jury that includes independent Czech experts, such as designer Jerry Koza, architect Markéta Zdebská, designer Jiří Pelcl, and construction expert Jiří Kolísko from the Czech Technical University.
The new entrances are another step towards making the visit to the Castle more pleasant. Last year, security checks in the gardens were removed, and this year, toilets are now free of charge. In the future, new benches and a relaxation zone for families with children will also be introduced.
