The Horácká Multifunctional Arena in Jihlava has won the Czech Architecture Award

Prague – This year’s Czech Architecture Award went to the Horácká Multifunctional Arena in Jihlava. The jury praised it as a thoughtfully designed public building that connects sport, culture and the city’s everyday life. In addition to the main prize, the arena also won the Public Choice Award. Representatives of the CHYBIK + KRISTOF studio accepted the awards at the gala evening for the 11th edition of the competition, organised by the Czech Chamber of Architects (ČKA) at Prague’s Forum Karlín. Several other awards and honourable mentions were also presented.

The Horácká Multifunctional Arena in Jihlava, designed by architects Ondřej Chybík and Michal Krištof, replaced the original ice rink in the city centre. It is intended to host sporting, cultural and social events. In addition to ice hockey matches, it can also accommodate concerts. The architectural concept was based on dividing the functions between two new buildings: an elliptical arena and a corner building. A staircase shaped as an outdoor amphitheatre was created between them.

Distinctive features include a glazed ground floor, a red façade and a publicly accessible running track on the roof. According to the jury, the arena demonstrates how a large sports building can become a fully integrated part of urban public space and strengthen people’s connection to a place. The project was commissioned by the statutory city of Jihlava.

The finalists included Prague-Bubny railway station by Jakub Cigler Architekti; the revitalisation of the Radbuza riverfront in Plzeň by Jsme k světu; Lošbates Intermunicipal Primary School in Louňovice, designed by the architectural practices Pelletier de Fontenay and SOA architekti; the extension of Hostivař Cemetery in Prague by Fertyk a Bakyta; and the revitalisation of the Brewery Terraces in Vimperk by Steiner a Malíková krajinářští architekti and Roman Brychta Architekti. The transformation of the Brewery Terraces won the Alena Šrámková Award, which highlights women’s contributions to contemporary architecture.

The jury awarded honourable mentions to the Forest Swimming Pool in Liberec, designed by Jan Vondrák, Jan Mach and Marie Vondráková of Mjölk architekti, and to the conversion of a garden house in Panoší Újezd by architect Lenka Milerová. The competition’s partners also recognised several buildings. For example, the Nature Conservation Agency’s award for creating a cultural landmark in a rural setting went to the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows in Nesvačilka, designed by architect Jan Říčný of RCNKSK. The Centre for Regional Development of the Czech Republic recognised the Olomouc Library – Kotelna Branch by kcarch for the exemplary realisation of a design selected through an architectural competition. Its architects are Václav Čermák, Václav Kolínský and Ondřej Šperl.

A total of 301 projects were entered in this year’s competition. An international jury chaired by Dutch architect Jeroen van Schooten selected 25 nominees from among them.