City and Water

Our aim was not to draw a single self-contained project, but to create an urban framework open over time, which further projects can build on over the years. One of the projects completed last year is the Sun Island on Jiráskovo nábřeží.

A place that originally served mainly for transit is becoming another part of the city for rest and relaxation by the water. The project is based on combining flood-protection logic with blue-green infrastructure, and has created a quiet zone that supports biodiversity and the natural cooling of the microclimate.

The project is essential for uniting the two banks of the city and for integrating the exhibition grounds into the life of České Budějovice, as planned for the future. The Sun Island will be followed, for example, by the construction of a footbridge over the Vltava by the PROKŠ PRIKRYL ARCHITEKTI studio, the creation of a public passage between Pavilions Z and T, and the planned left-bank cycle path.

We are transforming the embankment of the Malše river in the very heart of České Budějovice from a transit space into a lively pedestrian promenade with an attractive riverside quay. Our design addresses the right bank in the section between the Iron Bridge on Biskupská Street and the Krumlov Bridge on Lidická Street, where we are creating a generous public space for meeting, relaxing and street food experiences right next to the water. A key step in the project is moving the existing embankment wall, which gives us enough space for a fully fledged leisure zone. In the new wall, built from stones of the original dismantled structure, we propose vaulted cellars for food and drink outlets and their back-of-house facilities. So that the quay's operation does not disturb pedestrian comfort, deliveries are handled by an underground lift. The quay will be reached from street level by several staircases and with full step-free access from the Slávie cultural centre. In addition to pedestrians, the quay will also serve water transport – we are providing a jetty and mooring elements for boats, bringing direct contact with the water back to the city centre and supporting recreational life on the river.

The overall concept for the transformation of the site is based on several fundamental principles. The original cycle path was moved to the edge of the site, running through the space by the neighbouring halls, so that a lively pedestrian promenade could be created in its place. A key aim was to turn the site into a year-round recreational area. This involves not only high-quality facilities but also a long-term strategy for operation, event organisation, maintaining the atmosphere and standard of services, and proper upkeep.

The activities of the area are concentrated in two main focal points, whose backbone is the pedestrian promenade on the crest of the flood embankment. The lower part is the low-lying area between the embankment and the surface of the Vltava. It features grass beaches, beach volleyball courts, bathing jetties and benches overlooking the Vltava. A new terraced staircase improves the connection between the recreational areas.

The upper part of the area is a triangle between the pedestrian promenade and the new cycle path. Various types of children's playgrounds and sports pitches, green spaces, facilities for the recreational and sports areas, and a cultural hub – the central “little square” – have been built here. The notional social centre of the recreation zone consists of modular containers complemented by timber decks and hoggin surfaces for outdoor seating. The container design helps create an informal setting. Some of the roofs are used as terraces with seating. In the containers, visitors will find a café, a bistro, sports equipment hire, changing rooms, toilets and showers, and a stage for a wide range of sports, music and other cultural events.

The southern part contains a workout area and a parkour park. The children's playground is located north of the workout zone and offers play elements for all age groups. Everything is made of natural materials in a subtle colour range inspired by nature. The upper part of the area also includes a beach volleyball arena with two professional courts and earth-bank stands.