Vsetín has selected the winner of the architects' competition for the future layout of the square

Vsetín - Vsetín has selected the winner of the urban planning and architectural competition for the new appearance of Svobody Square, Svárov Street, and the adjacent area. The jury was most impressed by the proposal from Moba Studio Prague. It includes, for example, bringing institutions closer to citizens by eliminating elevated entrances to buildings, as well as transforming the square into a park-like space. The Czech News Agency was informed of this today by the city hall spokesperson Eva Stejskalová.
    “For example, the entrance stairs to the culture house should be completely removed; instead, a passage should be created in its basement, and from the stairs, a natural arena for informal seating will emerge,” noted the chairman of the jury, architect Ludvík Grym. Similar alterations are expected for the entrance to the city hall and the Jednota department store. “Svobody Square will then be transformed into a park-like appearance with a large amount of greenery,” he added.
    According to Stejskalová, the jury assessed two proposals in the second round of the competition, whose creators apparently understood that “the reconstruction of the given space is not just about changing surfaces and furniture, but they focused on eliminating the main problems and restoring the naturalness of this place”. However, the winning proposal, according to Grym, respected the economic viability of the city more.
    “The proposal serves as a good basis for planning further reconstructions in the city center; in addition, it is feasible. And if we manage to implement the architects’ recommendations, we will at least partially rectify the unfortunate steps of the past, and the city center will gain an attractive, natural appearance,” said Vsetín's mayor Květoslava Othová.
    The winning proposal is expected to be further developed in the coming months into documentation for a land use decision. The city also intends to commission the creation of documentation for the reconstruction of the town hall building, primarily in the entrance area and the outer shell. Both will then serve as the basis for applications for subsidies from European funds.