The long-planned renovation of Wenceslas Square has started.

“The revitalization started on the lower part of Wenceslas Square, roughly from Mustek to the Ambassador Hotel,” said Deputy Mayor Petr Hlaváček (TOP 09). He added that works next year will continue to the intersection with Jindřišská Street.

In the framework of the renovation, the sidewalk in the square will be expanded by 25% to 17 meters at the expense of 70 parking spaces, which will leave only 20 parking spaces at the square. The renovation plan includes water sprinklers and recharging stations for electric vehicles.

Furthermore, by the Koruna palace, an additional row of trees will be planted and plane trees will be added to the current lime trees.

The aim is to completely redesign the area to meet urban-design and architecture requirements, including relocation of underground water, gas and electricity lines.

Only delivery vehicles or vehicles with special permission will be allowed through and the space through which any car will be able to go will be narrowed.

Due to the size and the complexity of the space, construction work is planned in two stages.

A proposal to renovate the square by Jakub Cigler Architekti won a competition organized by Prague 1 City Hall in 2005. Its roots go back even earlier. The project originated when Václav Havel was president and Jan Kasl was mayor, from 1998 to 2002.

The company Hochtief CZ won the competitive tender with a bid price of approximately 326 million CZK without VAT.

The Wenceslas square was constructed in the mid-14th century and originally served as a horse market. This square witnessed many historical events, such as the declaration of Czech Independence in 1918, the Soviet invasion of 1968, the key shaking during the velvet revolution of 1989, and so on.

 

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