In the architects' competition for the new square, Hradec Králové selected five finalists

Hradec Králové - In the architectural-urban planning competition for the new square and residential building in the Kukleny district of Hradec Králové, the jury selected five finalists for the second round. The municipality received 49 proposals for the competition. The finalists, chosen anonymously by the jury, must submit their refined proposals to the municipality by April 10, the municipality announced today. The square on the site of the former tannery is to become the center of the developing district on the western edge of the city.

"The participation of competitors was above average; we did not expect such a number," said Adam Záruba (Change for Hradec), Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning, Urbanism, and Architecture. Before the deadline for submission of proposals, he estimated that due to the complexity and scope of the area being addressed, ten to twenty studios could submit proposals.

Architects are to design a residential block of cooperative housing in addition to the New Kukleny square, which the city is preparing. The residential building would be located by Pražská Street and the new square. "We are preparing the establishment of a housing cooperative and the construction of the first cooperative housing building. We would like to offer about 80 apartments intended primarily for young families with children," said Pavel Vrbický (Pirates), Deputy Mayor for Housing Policy.

According to Vrbický, the city would like to follow the Kukleny cooperative housing project with the construction of additional cooperative buildings, mostly on municipal land. Cooperative apartments should be up to 30 percent cheaper than those in developer projects, according to Vrbický. "We also expect that the implementation will attract new residents to Hradec Králové, which will positively reflect in the city budget," Vrbický stated.

The Kukleny brownfield area, measuring nearly 14 hectares, has exceptional potential for the establishment of a new center of the district, which could provide homes for nearly 1,900 people, according to the municipality. The architectural competition addresses an area of over half a hectare, with more than half intended for the residential building and the rest for the square.

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