Ústí will announce a competition to improve the space between the department stores

Ústí nad Labem - Ústí nad Labem intends to announce an architectural competition for the enhancement of the space between the Labe department store and the Forum shopping center. The winners will receive 250,000 crowns. This was reported today by the spokesperson of the Ústí nad Labem City Authority, Romana Macová. It is not yet clear when or if the potential winning proposal will be realized.
    "The City Council has approved the announcement of a public architectural competition for the Cultivation of Public Space between the department stores with the aim of creating a market square," Macová stated. The project is to focus on the area between the Labe and Forum department stores and the adjoining street U Kostela heading towards Revoluční street.
    "The competition will be announced in cooperation with the Czech Chamber of Architects, and a total of 250,000 crowns is allocated for the prizes for the competitors," Macová noted. The total budget for the project, which will be financed from last year's surplus, amounts to 320,000 crowns.
    Ústí's councilor Josef Macík (ČSSD) told CTK that the city has not yet discussed whether and when the proposal will be realized and how much it will cost. For now, it is primarily about gathering suggestions and ideas for what could be done with the space.
    He stated that architects should also consider that part of this area serves as a market. "The purpose of the competition is to find the most suitable solution for the space and to reward the author of the winning proposal. The goal of this project is to clarify certain aspects of architectural or urban planning issues," Macík quoted from the materials that the council discussed. It also follows from those that the winner of the competition may not be commissioned to realize the project.
    Councilor Pavel Dlouhý (ČSSD) expressed hope for the realization of the winning proposal, as he believes that the current state of the area with concrete benches and stalls is unacceptable for the city center. The cost of the realization cannot be estimated yet. "That will only be the result of those proposals. We do not place any limits on ideas; we will see what the architects come up with," Dlouhý told CTK.
    The timeline for the construction modifications depends on the extent of the proposed changes and whether a building permit will be required. According to Dlouhý, the modifications should affect both the pavement, greenery, and benches, as well as elements that are intended for market purposes. "We leave it to the authors to come up with whether there will be stalls, counters, permanent or mobile elements," said the councilor. The city is also considering partial, for example, mobile roofing for the space. According to Dlouhý, the architectural competition itself could take place by the end of this year.