Urban study of Louny – Skalka
We propose a compact urban structure surrounded by a generous park in the existing undeveloped wedge – connecting the existing town areas through the new city district with streets and public spaces. We are restoring defunct roads leading to the countryside. Following the plans of the First Republic era, we define new streets and public spaces with respect for their generosity, but with a contemporary interpretation.
We attach public spaces of different sizes and characters to the rational structure of the streets with new squares and local plazas at their intersections. We propose a contemporary pleasant place to live with a mix of functions, available public amenities and spaces for spending free time.
| Project: | Urban study of Louny - Skalka |
| Competition result: | 2nd place |
| Authors: | Pavel Hnilička, Jan Pačka |
| Collaboration: | Milena Raičević, Mikuláš Valdman |
| Client: | The town of Louny |
| Solved area: | 66 ha |
| Year: | 2023 |
TOWN
We propose a compact urban structure surrounded by a generous park. The urban character of the development will offer all its time-proven advantages and benefits. In particular, the population density, diversity and availability of services and public amenities are necessary for the sustainability and efficient economy of the town. The urban character will emphasize the new district and support its importance in the organism of the whole town. The newly emerging district will not be just another satellite or housing estate without a local center, but will be a full-fledged independent and nameable part of Louny.
We connect the existing town areas through the new town district with streets and public spaces. We see the connection as linking the town into one unit and enabling the flow of events and energies. We are restoring defunct roads leading to the countryside. Following the plans from the First Republic era, we define new streets and public spaces with respect for their generosity, but with a contemporary interpretation.
We loosen the character of the development towards the south with gradually removing floors, transforming typologies from mass housing to individual housing. Within the new district, we propose places for the location of public amenities, services and sports buildings. Defined urban blocks are a rational basis for the different content of individual buildings. The effort is to support a mix of services and functions and to prepare the conditions for the creation of a diverse neighborhood based on the principles of the 15-minute city. However, the very typology and content of the objects is variable over time. What remains is the skeleton of streets and public spaces.
COUNTRYSIDE
We balance the fixed urban structure with landscape features keeping the valuable parts and supplementing them with new contemporary and purposeful landscape elements. We supplement the established forest with new trees and leave the tops of the hills bare. At the point where the highway rises above the ground level, we propose to place a mound between the highway and the city to block the traffic noise. We don't consciously let the development go to the top of the hill, but leave it below it. We design the street network in the east-west direction as much as possible along the contours with the houses themselves offering views of the dramatic panorama of the Bohemian Central Mountains.
We are proposing a linear urban park in place of the very high voltage diagonal line. A set of spaces for active spending of time of all age and social groups. A place that is a transition between the existing and the new structures. A place for walking or cycling to the train station or to a shopping center.
TRANSPORT
The street hierarchy is based on the proposed urban structure. We try to minimize the traffic nature of roads and support the creation of residential and pleasant streets and public spaces. By proposing a hierarchy of streets and their characters, we are trying to support pedestrian, bicycle and mass transport over passenger car transport. Through the new district, we propose an extension of the town bus service.
