Offener Wettbewerb | 09/2017
Neues KCP - Kongresszentrum Prag / Mezinárodní architektonicko-urbanistická soutěž o návrh „NOVÉ KCP“ – Kongresové centrum Praha
Exterior day view
1. Preis
Preisgeld: 1.000.000 CZK
Architektur
Erläuterungstext
The aim of the competition is to propose new exhibition spaces for the Prague Congress Centre (KCP), that would be used for different purposes, such as conventions, concerts and other social events.
An important condition will be the modernisation – extension – of the convention facilities that will fully meet the high demands of the organising events. The proposal should aim to create a contemporary added value to a building belonging to the architectural heritage of the 1970 ́s. A key aspect therefore will be the connection between the proposed extension and the existing KCP building.
The second, though not less important, condition for the proposal is its urban aspect, thanks to which the Congress Centre will be finally implemented into the city fabric. This will be a further step towards the transformation of the Prague Magistrála road, from a heavy traffic artery that is a real separating element in the city of Prague, to a 21st century city boulevard. It is critical therefore that the design proposes a high quality connection between the Congress Centre complex and the Nusle neighbourhood, and that it will respond to the potential of the everyday local dynamics.
An important condition will be the modernisation – extension – of the convention facilities that will fully meet the high demands of the organising events. The proposal should aim to create a contemporary added value to a building belonging to the architectural heritage of the 1970 ́s. A key aspect therefore will be the connection between the proposed extension and the existing KCP building.
The second, though not less important, condition for the proposal is its urban aspect, thanks to which the Congress Centre will be finally implemented into the city fabric. This will be a further step towards the transformation of the Prague Magistrála road, from a heavy traffic artery that is a real separating element in the city of Prague, to a 21st century city boulevard. It is critical therefore that the design proposes a high quality connection between the Congress Centre complex and the Nusle neighbourhood, and that it will respond to the potential of the everyday local dynamics.
Beurteilung durch das Preisgericht
The jury included representatives of the KCP – Prague Mayor and deputy chair of the
board of governors Adriana Krnáčová, board chair Radim Haluza, general director
Roman Ray Straub, supported by Marek Kopeć from IPR and councillor for Prague 4
Alžběta Rejchrtová. The architectural profession was represented by Petr Hlaváček
and Ivan Kroupa, along with Elia Zenghelis from Greece, Mathias Müller from
Switzerland, and alternates Viktorie Součková and Tomáš Koumar. Their collective
efforts were summed up by Petr Hlaváček: ‘Excellent international jurors, wonderful
young alternates, enthusiastic investor representatives and politicians. Despite the
great diversity of approaches for individual jurors, we mostly worked in agreement. I
can assume that if such a varied jury can agree on the selection of the design, it must
have the potential to address the public and other participants in the overall process.’
Elia Zenghelis, co-founder of the renowned studio OMA and currently a professor at
the Yale School of Architecture, added with reference to the winning team after the
competition conclusion: ‘The original building of the Congress Centre has to deal with
its identity as an imposingly constructed monument to the Communist era that needs
to be reformulated for the contemporary age. This includes a new appearance, a new
position towards the city, and connections to a complicated traffic situation. This
complexity is what the authors of the winning design handled with mastery.’
‘The Congress Centre is not able, over the long term, to keep up with the high demand
for exhibition and congress space, so it urgently needs the new hall. But no less
important is the design for the surroundings and the entire area around the Congress
Centre, so that it can serve the public better than it now does. Many designs came in,
and I’m personally glad that so many of them were so good; I’m convinced that in the
end we really did pick the best’, said Prague Mayor Adriana Krnáčová.
board of governors Adriana Krnáčová, board chair Radim Haluza, general director
Roman Ray Straub, supported by Marek Kopeć from IPR and councillor for Prague 4
Alžběta Rejchrtová. The architectural profession was represented by Petr Hlaváček
and Ivan Kroupa, along with Elia Zenghelis from Greece, Mathias Müller from
Switzerland, and alternates Viktorie Součková and Tomáš Koumar. Their collective
efforts were summed up by Petr Hlaváček: ‘Excellent international jurors, wonderful
young alternates, enthusiastic investor representatives and politicians. Despite the
great diversity of approaches for individual jurors, we mostly worked in agreement. I
can assume that if such a varied jury can agree on the selection of the design, it must
have the potential to address the public and other participants in the overall process.’
Elia Zenghelis, co-founder of the renowned studio OMA and currently a professor at
the Yale School of Architecture, added with reference to the winning team after the
competition conclusion: ‘The original building of the Congress Centre has to deal with
its identity as an imposingly constructed monument to the Communist era that needs
to be reformulated for the contemporary age. This includes a new appearance, a new
position towards the city, and connections to a complicated traffic situation. This
complexity is what the authors of the winning design handled with mastery.’
‘The Congress Centre is not able, over the long term, to keep up with the high demand
for exhibition and congress space, so it urgently needs the new hall. But no less
important is the design for the surroundings and the entire area around the Congress
Centre, so that it can serve the public better than it now does. Many designs came in,
and I’m personally glad that so many of them were so good; I’m convinced that in the
end we really did pick the best’, said Prague Mayor Adriana Krnáčová.
Aerial night view
Exterior day view
Exterior day view
Exterior day view
Interior view
Model
Exploded axonometric
Groundfloor plan