Hradec Králové will announce a competition for a new square on the site of the former leather factory

Hradec Králové - In the coming days, Hradec Králové will announce an architectural and urban planning competition for a new square in the Kukleny district. It will be created on the site of the former tannery complex and is intended to become the center of the developing neighborhood. Architects will also be required to design a residential block for a cooperative housing project planned by the city on the square. They will need to incorporate the former chimney of the tannery into the square. This was stated today by Adam Záruba (Change for Hradec), the deputy mayor for urban planning, urbanism, and architecture.

The dilapidated building of the former tannery from the 19th century was demolished by the city in 2023. As a reminder of the extensive factory complex built of brick, only the chimney remains. In 2014, the city had the characteristic tower with a clock removed from the factory hall, which is stored in a warehouse at the airport. Architects will be able to incorporate the tower and brick walls from the demolished structures into their designs.

The architectural competition will be in two rounds. In an anonymous mode, a professional jury will select five concepts from the submitted designs on February 6, inviting the authors' teams to submit more detailed proposals. The city hopes to know the winning design in the spring.

The public also had a chance to express their opinions on the square's appearance. In October, the city organized public meetings attended by approximately 80 residents of Kuklen. The city also conducted a survey in which 155 people participated. "The results served as the basis for the competition assignment," stated the city hall.

Nearby the former tannery complex, the Hradec developer company Noho previously announced a housing project with approximately 220 apartments. The first building, Cihlovka 1, with 22 apartments was built in Kukleny in 2021, and the building Cihlovka 2, with 48 apartments, was completed in 2023. Recently, the Thera apartment building with 65 apartments also grew near Cihlovka.

The city hall has already responded to the rising housing construction in Kukleny by building a park behind the branch of the city library on Pražská street. The park, costing almost 12 million crowns without VAT, is expected to be completed by the end of this year. At the same time, the city is preparing the restoration of the Small Elbe Channel, which will enhance the area's flood protection.