Jihlava
Competition 2024
Správa železnic, státní organizace (national railway infrastructure manager)
dh architekti s.r.o.
dh architekti s.r.o.
Landscape architecture
Engineering design: František Denk, Ondřej Pavlát; transport engineering: Květoslav Syrový (Syrový – dopravní ateliér), Václav Pivoňka (Atelier PROMIKA); biology: Mgr. Jan Albert Šturma; visualisations: VIZE renderings
JIHLAVA HSR TERMINAL / PUBLIC OPEN SPACES AND LANDSCAPE DESIGN / 2024 COMPETITION
The terminal building sits humbly within the landscape of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, serving as a gateway to the town of Jihlava. Its design responds sensitively to the surrounding landscape, informed by a careful analysis of its values. The compact form preserves as much of the existing landscape as possible. A new cycle path links existing routes, following the course of the Zlatý Potok stream. The area along the stream offers passengers the experience of a water landscape with wetlands and pools. All modes of transport are integrated within a single hub, minimising transfer time. In the first phase, only the terminal building – including the check-in hall, platforms, car park and access roads – will be constructed, while the surrounding landscape will be preserved and some new functions will be added. A passage beneath the highway is designed to accommodate both people and wildlife.
The check-in hall serves as the terminal’s central space, connecting all modes of transport and acting as the main transit space. Its linear layout simplifies wayfinding and naturally guides passengers to their destinations. The sheltered space ensures comfortable transfers. The new bridge is a prominent landmark on the highway connecting Prague and Brno. It has been optimised for dynamic loads generated by rail traffic, has a low structural height, given the clearance, and the solution is cost-effective. The overpass echoes the architecture of the bridge, forming a thin line in the landscape.
Vegetation plays a key role in the terminal’s design, with climbers on the façade and green roofs on the staircases and the car park. A variety of wildlife habitats have been incorporated which also double as public outdoor spaces. There are places with full-grown vegetation as well as open landscape. The design respects the natural moisture gradient, ranging from water and moist soil habitats to intermediate and dry habitats, and incorporates diverse meadow types: thistle and mead wort, moor grass, oatgrass, and matgrass. Mature oak trees, remnants of a cultural landscape, have been preserved.
JURY EVALUATION
The jury appreciates:
— the use of embankments to simplify the construction of the overpass, and parking under the overpass;
— transfers between HSR and buses;
— the well-considered design and layout of parking spaces, including project phasing;
— the landscape design, which respects the local morphology and wildlife corridor.
The jury considers as less suitable:
— the architectural design featuring a projecting façade that conceals structural elements;
— the bridge design with pylons and hangers between the rails, which adds width to the structure and impacts the adjacent track;
— the transfer solution that could be improved in terms of navigation and natural wayfinding.
JIHLAVA HSR TERMINAL / PUBLIC OPEN SPACES AND LANDSCAPE DESIGN / 2024 COMPETITION
The terminal building sits humbly within the landscape of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, serving as a gateway to the town of Jihlava. Its design responds sensitively to the surrounding landscape, informed by a careful analysis of its values. The compact form preserves as much of the existing landscape as possible. A new cycle path links existing routes, following the course of the Zlatý Potok stream. The area along the stream offers passengers the experience of a water landscape with wetlands and pools. All modes of transport are integrated within a single hub, minimising transfer time. In the first phase, only the terminal building – including the check-in hall, platforms, car park and access roads – will be constructed, while the surrounding landscape will be preserved and some new functions will be added. A passage beneath the highway is designed to accommodate both people and wildlife.
The check-in hall serves as the terminal’s central space, connecting all modes of transport and acting as the main transit space. Its linear layout simplifies wayfinding and naturally guides passengers to their destinations. The sheltered space ensures comfortable transfers. The new bridge is a prominent landmark on the highway connecting Prague and Brno. It has been optimised for dynamic loads generated by rail traffic, has a low structural height, given the clearance, and the solution is cost-effective. The overpass echoes the architecture of the bridge, forming a thin line in the landscape.
Vegetation plays a key role in the terminal’s design, with climbers on the façade and green roofs on the staircases and the car park. A variety of wildlife habitats have been incorporated which also double as public outdoor spaces. There are places with full-grown vegetation as well as open landscape. The design respects the natural moisture gradient, ranging from water and moist soil habitats to intermediate and dry habitats, and incorporates diverse meadow types: thistle and mead wort, moor grass, oatgrass, and matgrass. Mature oak trees, remnants of a cultural landscape, have been preserved.
JURY EVALUATION
The jury appreciates:
— the use of embankments to simplify the construction of the overpass, and parking under the overpass;
— transfers between HSR and buses;
— the well-considered design and layout of parking spaces, including project phasing;
— the landscape design, which respects the local morphology and wildlife corridor.
The jury considers as less suitable:
— the architectural design featuring a projecting façade that conceals structural elements;
— the bridge design with pylons and hangers between the rails, which adds width to the structure and impacts the adjacent track;
— the transfer solution that could be improved in terms of navigation and natural wayfinding.
