Raumscape
Located in the historic center of Prague, the project takes place on a privately owned open space on top of the parking of a modernist hotel. The project proposes a careful intervention in Prague’s historic center that acknowledges the city’s layered history and social tensions while prioritizing everyday local life. Rooted in the footprint of the demolished medieval Jewish neighbourhood, the design introduces the concept of a “lifted ground” as a shared civic surface that reconciles memory, public space, and necessary programs. Retail functions are discreetly embedded beneath this ground plane.
Above, a garden replaces a conventional plaza, combining stone and vegetation to create a playful and evolving public landscape. Sculpted stone elements, subtle references to history, and informal play and seating areas encourage multi-generational use without monumentality. Conceived through dialogue, the project reflects collective preferences and remains open to continued participation through artistic collaboration, planting, programming, and ensuring the square becomes a locally rooted, shared space that balances heritage, contemporary use, and long-term stewardship.
*A public garden with discreet retail complex in the center of Prague (Architecture, Public Space), 1200 m2 / 0.6 ha, Prague Czech Republic, 2025 – ongoing, With New South
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Key elements of the project :
- A broken bond of trust between residents and public authorities.
- Intensive participation process with different audiences and stakeholders, with a specific focus on the inclusive use of public space.
- Participation tools used: bilateral consultations prior to collective forums, a project center, analog and digital communication tailored to the target audience.
- Programming exercise carried out with the community
The Square Jacques Franck project aims to extrapolate the existing situation by increasing the number of activities (recreational, sporting, landscape) in order to dilute the current over-importance of the city stadium. A comb-like layout is proposed, alternating between programmed spaces (city stadium, play modules, commercial pavilion) and green spaces. Far from being a fixed form, this proposal serves as a framework for participatory actions, as it allows for the targeting of areas to be equipped and others to be planted with vegetation. This figure allows for the creation of a variety of spaces with different atmospheres and facilities, while ensuring a common identity.
The traffic pattern has been redesigned to optimize car space without losing parking spaces, and to free the square from fast-moving traffic (bicycles, scooters) by organizing it on a green strip along the edge. A large part of the square is thus calmed and greened. Seven sub-spaces have been created, including three gardens. The city stadium is thus surrounded by two gardens containing various facilities (play modules, workout equipment, street furniture, vegetable beds, etc.), which will be specified during participatory workshops.
During the four months of on-site consultations in the square, one of the most frequently criticized aspects of the current project concerned the benches: poorly positioned, uncomfortable, hard, and cold. After a detailed survey of the eight different types of benches present, we proposed several reconfigurations as well as wooden additions (backrests, seats) to improve their comfort and usability.
- A broken bond of trust between residents and public authorities.
- Intensive participation process with different audiences and stakeholders, with a specific focus on the inclusive use of public space.
- Participation tools used: bilateral consultations prior to collective forums, a project center, analog and digital communication tailored to the target audience.
- Programming exercise carried out with the community
The Square Jacques Franck project aims to extrapolate the existing situation by increasing the number of activities (recreational, sporting, landscape) in order to dilute the current over-importance of the city stadium. A comb-like layout is proposed, alternating between programmed spaces (city stadium, play modules, commercial pavilion) and green spaces. Far from being a fixed form, this proposal serves as a framework for participatory actions, as it allows for the targeting of areas to be equipped and others to be planted with vegetation. This figure allows for the creation of a variety of spaces with different atmospheres and facilities, while ensuring a common identity.
The traffic pattern has been redesigned to optimize car space without losing parking spaces, and to free the square from fast-moving traffic (bicycles, scooters) by organizing it on a green strip along the edge. A large part of the square is thus calmed and greened. Seven sub-spaces have been created, including three gardens. The city stadium is thus surrounded by two gardens containing various facilities (play modules, workout equipment, street furniture, vegetable beds, etc.), which will be specified during participatory workshops.
During the four months of on-site consultations in the square, one of the most frequently criticized aspects of the current project concerned the benches: poorly positioned, uncomfortable, hard, and cold. After a detailed survey of the eight different types of benches present, we proposed several reconfigurations as well as wooden additions (backrests, seats) to improve their comfort and usability.