The Holešovice meander is a unique natural phenomenon in the Prague basin and the whole of Bohemia. On the entire course of the Vltava we find no similar space so generously shaped and so suddenly contrasted with the deeply enclosed ravines south and north of Prague. We propose to recall the strength of the original landscape image, fundamentally transformed by the regulation of the riverbed, with a stretch of “intermediate water” redefined after years by the dynamic rhythm of the river.
Due to its unique location in the river landscape and traces of history, the island of Rohan and Libeň will house a highly varied mosaic of atmospheres, “park” typologies and programmes, creating a different, hybrid space. By intervening in the existing topography, the visual and physical contact with the river will be restored. In this way, the quality of the low-lying vistas will be reflected again. The gradient in the terrain thus created opens up opportunities for increased biodiversity and the development of middle and higher vegetation levels.
Complementing the river as a base, the concept incorporates several historical layers in the development of a powerful new green structure. The new Rohan Island park will be an exciting mix between ‘wild’ nature and traces of the past. The apparent pardox between post-industrial relics, wild nature and a pervasive reference to an urban food strategy lay the foundation for a diverse park tailored to people and nature. From this starting point, we want to introduce natural elements close to the residential fabric and offer a varied range of sports and recreational opportunities for residents. But the park should also form an attraction pool for schoolchildren and the elderly in the surrounding neighbourhoods.
The new park is based on a robust spatial framework that provides a framework for contemporary interpretation and use as a park. Biodiversity, infillability, temporality and evolution are key concepts in the new concept. As a result, the design makes real use of long-term sustainability and this for both the planet and society. Within the spatial structure, there is a high degree of flexibility. This allows a diverse use of space by many stakeholders, whether temporary, periodic or seasonal. The park is made integrally accessible so that people with disabilities can easily reach the park’s various hotspots. We are not only making a park for people, but also a park by people!
