Prague, Czech Republic

“We are giving Wenceslas Square back to the people, the way it was in the last century before it was overrun by taxi drivers, sausage stands, and nightclub barkers,” said city councilor for transportation, Adam Scheinherr.

Jakub Cigler and his design team at Studio Jakub Cigler Architekti together with Ateliér DUA and Olgoj Chorchoj Studio, have completed the lower part of the 37,000 m2 revitalization of Wenceslas Square, which won first place in a 2005 competition.

Cigler won the competition in 2005 under the firm name Cigler Marani.

The design for the upper part of the square has now been updated, and the renovation of the upper part will begin at the turn of 2022–2023.

The project’s new street furniture, bus shelters, and public transportation totems are designed by the Czech architecture and Design firm Olgoj Chorchoj Studio.

Wenceslas Square, one of the main symbols of the Czech lands, was and is the center of Prague and the Historic Centre of Prague (UNESCO), and is also the venue for important events and meetings.

Cigler’s revitalization proposal, therefore, aimed to rehabilitate the phenomenon of Wenceslas Square as a boulevard teeming with life and also includes the reintroduction of the tram line.

According to the redesign, the areas of the square for different types of transport are clearly defined, the pavements are widened, and another linden tree line is added.

At the request of the contracting authority, the urban furniture, surface treatments, and materials used were unified, while one of the basic principles of the design is the intention to eliminate vehicle parking.

The lower part of the square was revitalized in the first stage.

The new pedestrian zone is from the Jindřišská – Vodičkova intersection towards Můstek; its middle lane is concurrently a space reserve for the possibility of returning the tram line.

A simple water element is located in the core of the lower part at the level of the Bata Palace.

Common Linden, type Ebben, is planted in the new inner alleys.

The TreeParker system is used to grow the trees, which prevents the compaction of the soil around the tree. Watering is provided by an automatic irrigation system in combination with rainwater from the surrounding paved areas by collecting into pavement drainages.

The tree grates are cast iron, with a variable inner diameter considering the different sizes of the trunks.

Bicycle stands and waste bins are in accordance with the design of the new Prague furniture from the Olgoj Chorchoj Studio, however, the bins are modified to a version with an underground container with a capacity of 600l. Benches are made of simple blocks of artificial stone.

With the progress of reconstruction, stands and other ill-conceived above-ground buildings are being relocated.

Only the ventilation devices from the metro and underground collectors remained, which the new material solution of the cladding unifies. The walkways are paved with dark grey limestone mosaics.

There are large granite pavings on the drivable areas and the central promenade.

The ground plan of the square is based on the medieval module of the street network foundation in a grid of multiples of the so-called “landseil” (almost 31 m).

A new horizontal division of area was created on this basis. It determines the position of new trees, the location of furniture, and above all it horizontally rhythms new wide walkways.

Bicycle stands and waste bins are in accordance with the design of the new Prague furniture from the Olgoj Chorchoj Studio, however, the bins are modified to a version with an underground container with a capacity of 600l.

Benches are made of simple blocks of artificial stone. With the progress of reconstruction, stands and other ill-conceived above-ground buildings are being relocated.

Only the ventilation devices from the metro and underground collectors remained, which the new material solution of the cladding unifies.

The walkways are paved with dark grey limestone mosaics.

There is large granite paving on the drivable areas and the central promenade.

The ground plan of the square is based on the medieval module of the street network foundation in a grid of multiples of the so-called “landseil” (almost 31 m).

A new horizontal division of area was created on this basis. It determines the position of new trees, the location of furniture, and above all it horizontally rhythms new wide walkways.

The Wenceslas Square and Museum tram line projects are currently being processed.

The Prague Public Transport Company is preparing these two projects with the aim to connect today’s line in Jindřišská and Vodičkova Streets with the line in Vinohradská Street via the upper part of Wenceslas Square and the space between the buildings of the National Museum.

“For years, Wenceslas Square was paralyzed by complex relationships and overlapping projects. The previous administration of Prague 1 blocked the transformation of Wenceslas Square, whereas right from the start, we have wanted to reach an agreement with the city,” said Mayor of Prague 1, Pavel Čižinský.

We have now done that, and I am genuinely happy—we really owe it to the people. They deserve a new square.”

The entire square should be completed by 2025.

Project: Wenceslas Square Renovtion
Architects: Studio Jakub Cigler Architekti (JCA)
Design Team: Jakub Cigle, Vladimír Vacek, Jan Hofman, Petr Kučera, Václav Šimeček, Ondřej Hrozinka, and Peter Bednár
Client: Hlavní město Praha