The Prague Castle will announce a competition for the transformation of the Stable Courtyard, which was already considered during Havel's time

Prague – Prague Castle will announce an architectural competition for the transformation of the Stable Courtyard into a visitor and information center. This will continue the reflections from the era of Václav Havel that were never realized. Architects and architectural historian Zdeněk Lukeš, along with spokesperson for the Prague Castle Administration Natálie Máchová, shared this with reporters during a tour of buildings associated with Havel today. The originally Renaissance Stable Courtyard is located behind the wall on U Prašného mostu Street opposite the Riding School of Prague Castle.

According to Lukeš, there were various ideas about the use of the Stable Courtyard during the opening of the castle complex after Havel's election as Czechoslovak president at the end of 1989. "I think, under Petr Pavel, there is an intensive effort to do something for the people there. I believe they are trying to build on some ideas we had in the 1990s," said Lukeš, who has been working at the castle since Havel's era.

"We will be announcing an architectural competition this winter or at the beginning of next year for the transformation of the Stable Courtyard, probably into a visitor center," said Máchová.

Last year's competition for landscape architects for Chotkovy sady considered the possibility of creating a path from Jelení příkop directly into the gardens. It also opened the topic of a new footbridge over Jelení příkop.

"(Architect Josip) Plečnik already came up with the idea that a footbridge could be built to connect the two hills, meaning Svatováclavská vinice, Opyš, and the area in Chotkovy sady. This is again being considered today," said Lukeš. Architects in the competition will probably have to deal with the issue of possible disruption to the castle's skyline.

Havel's era is associated with two major projects – the tunnel under Prašný most in Jelení příkop designed by Josef Pleskot and Eva Jiřičná's Orangery. In the 1990s, the topic also included the opening of the lower Jelení příkop. If the gate were opened, pedestrians would find themselves in a difficult situation, according to Lukeš, because Chotkova Street lacks sidewalks.

A tunnel or another footbridge was considered, but there were obstacles. "Eventually, I thought that the only solution was to lead people along footbridges around Chotkova Street to Klárov. That was later done by Pleskot. I think it worked out; the footbridges are still functioning today," Lukeš stated.

During Havel's tenure, new pavement was also laid in Jiřské náměstí at the castle, following a historical pattern. However, a large international competition for the northern forecourt of the castle, according to Lukeš, did not lead to a feasible result.

Other ideas were dissuaded by architects according to Lukeš. The former president, whose 90th birthday will be celebrated on October 5, proposed building a student dormitory in Lumbeho garden with a retirement home next to it. However, according to architects' experiences, such close coexistence of the young and the elderly is often problematic. Havel's idea for a European village with houses from individual countries also did not materialize.

After Havel's inauguration, the Royal Garden was opened, as he refused to live in the presidential house previously occupied by Gustav Husák. "The main tower of the cathedral was also closed so that, under Husák, it could not be seen from the presidential house. Of course, we opened the tower," noted Lukeš.

The entrance to the Royal Garden was heavily restricted by Havel's successors and predecessors, Václav Klaus and Miloš Zeman. According to Lukeš, a fence was also created there, which disappeared again under Pavel and the garden is now accessible.