OMGEVING wins competition for climate park in Prague

The Belgian architecture firm OMGEVING has won the competition to build a climate park in Prague. This new metropolitan park is intended to re-establish the connection between the Vltava River and the city. Read more about the ambitious green project here.

The new Prague Climate Park, designed by OMGEVING, is the third major green project that the city is planning along the Vltava River. The aim is to restore the river, implement flood protection measures and develop a metropolitan park. The climate park, which is located directly on the meandering river, will re-establish the connection between the river and the city. The winning design convinced the jury of the international competition with its sustainable development strategy, which responds to the natural and urban dynamics of the area. As an elongated park, the space will form a robust blue-green framework that is anchored in the surrounding urban structure. Parts of the park will be floodable to create a flood-proof park that also provides various park functions for people of all ages. OMGEVING also proposed new cycling and walking parks along the river.

The redesign of the riverside area in the Prague 8 district is a response to the natural dynamics of the river and the local urban dynamics. With this design, the city wants to focus on climate adaptation, biodiversity, CO2 neutrality, circular economy and sustainable mobility. The OMGEVING design is now being fleshed out in a co-creative process involving local residents and the local partners Fiser, VRV and Sindlar. The main client is the City of Prague.

Covering an area of 56 hectares, the new climate park will offer various park spaces and functions. Maniny Park, Rohan Island and Libeñ Island will be part of OMGEVING + Fiser’s new city park. The project area comprises a former railroad site. It is located within walking distance of the historic city center of Prague and the dynamic new center of Karlin.

OMGEVING and the Czech architectural firm Fiser are planning to intervene in the existing topography to create a new river meander. This will help the climate park to be temporarily flooded and at the same time support the landscape restoration of some lower lying views. With a terraced design of the park, the architects want to enable a gradual transition between wet zones along the lower river banks and dry zones at the upper edge of the park. This will create opportunities for greater biodiversity with different types of vegetation. These new plants will in turn improve natural storage and provide cooling on hot summer days.

The innovative climate park will also reinforce the historical layering of the area by adding several urban park spaces to the blue-green park structure. The new green space’s diverse program includes the development of wild nature, preservation of traces of the past, reference to an urban food strategy, space for play and relaxation, and areas for biodiversity. This park will be designed with both people and nature in mind, providing spaces for temporary use, but also considering transition to ensure future-proof use for decades to come. In addition, the structure of the park is designed for flexibility to respond to the different seasons and audiences of the space. To attract a large and diverse audience, the new Prague Climate Park will also be easily accessible for people with reduced mobility.

The city also prides itself on developing a climate park that is suitable for all age groups. Sports and leisure facilities on a flexible park island will provide attractions, and the integration and upgrading of the city’s oldest allotment site and a new swimming area will expand the range of leisure activities on offer. Of course, the architects also encourage spontaneous park activities and temporary uses.

Read more: Hamburg’s Eichtalpark is set to become a model climate project and show how German cities can defy the hot, dry summers of the future.