black meadow of ostrava

urban design competition for revitalization of The Black Meadow area in Ostrava, Czech Republic
award
Marcin Jojko, Bartek Nawrocki, Josef Kiszka, Krzystof Czech, Grzegorz Ostrowski,
dots.pl (renderings)

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The creation of a significant cultural and social space in the city centre has an important influence on the new image of Ostrava and confirms its transformation from industry based city towards the modern city of science and art. The ambition to become The European Capital of Culture in 2015 based on multicultural and multi-ethnic exchange of Czech , Slovak and Polish shouldn’t deny its industrial roots.

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existing situation

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The cultural sphere in the region strongly relates to industrial heritage which can be discovered again in our today’s life. The concept of feasible connection between Černá Louka cultural cluster and other monuments of „kulturwerk” (The Lower Vitkowice, Double Hall, old coal mines and shaft minings Zarubek, Jakub, Jan Maria, Zvěřina, Michálka i Michal, Tereza) by the existing industrial railways combined with tramway network can become an important element in city’s aspirations and it’s cultural attractiveness.
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new sity axis entertainment axis nature axis

The development strategy of for Ostrava and its suburbs logically assumes city’s future expansion in south – east and south – west directions towards post-industrial areas between Moravian Ostrava, Silesian Ostrava and Vitkowice which will certainly give the central position on the city’s plan to Černá Louka. Taking the advantage of green corridor along the Ostravice River and similar „natural axis” through Trojicka Valley, Ema Slag Heap and ZOO towards the meanders of Odra River to the east as well as city’s expansion in the direction of Vitkovice and Lučina Castle, the area of Černá Louka has a great chance to become a heart, lungs and soul of the Ostrava.

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obstructing zone idea of the cluster openness to the river beach

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pedestrian streams
active grounfloors
service roads
underground parking

The ambition of our project is to stimulate the development of Černá Louka within defined frames, conceived as flexible system in terms of space, economy and urban composition. The system anticipates a partial realisation of previewed program as well as its evolution related to unknown future needs of the city. The idea assumes a creation of a cultural cluster formed by independent structures. Proposed layout respects the tradition of a historical meadow which occupied a south border of Moravian Ostrava from the beginning of a city’s growth.

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The disposition of a new cultural buildings (concert hall, exhibition hall, creative incubator etc.) around the meadow and open towards Ostravice River is previewed in order to strengthen the vision of a cultural cluster. According to the lexical explanation of a term cluster – defined as “a group of the same or similar elements gathered or occurring closely together “ our concept base on the relations between the cultural institutions and enclosed green meadow which can accommodate the vast range of public activities like concerts, performances, picnics, parades, sport competitions etc.

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The demolition of old structures, transformation of the pavilions A and G to fulfil new requirements, careful approach to existing planting and trees as well as reparation and addition of the systems of roads and paths are the key interventions. Creating of built mass on competition area is not indispensable condition for implementing the idea of a cultural meadow as an public space. The disposition of a program into separate structures enables developer’s independence during the realisation of the cluster. A phased construction of an underground public parking takes the advantage of the local topography, but the execution of the independent parking building within the close neighbourhood can also be taken into consideration. The urban layout of prescribed and future program implicates a concentration and merging of urban tissue around Černá Louka as well as further expansion towards post-industrial areas which have excellent infrastructural and circulation potential in both local and regional scale.

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