International Architectural Competition 4th Quadrant of Victory Square 

PragueThe purpose of the competition is to identify and reward an optimal architectural and urban design solution for the development of the 4th Quadrant of Victory Square and complete the urban-design concept of Professor Antonín Engel from the 1920s. The north-western quadrant had not yet been developed leaving the square composition incomplete and disintegrating the entire urban structure of the area. 

ONplan was assigned by the competition client, Fourth Quadrant company, to organise the international architectural competition and to involve the public and key stakeholders in the area in the preparation and process of the competition. Within the completion of the 4th Quadrant, both the intentions of the company Fourth Quadrant and the Prague University of Chemistry and Technology, as owners of the land, will be addressed and combined with the city's plans for the revitalization of Vítězné náměstí and the public spaces of the Dejvice Campus. The area should be transformed into polyfunctional buildings with flats, offices, civic amenities and the premises of the VŠCHT.

The winner of the competition is expected to be selected by an international jury in June 2023.

Integrated Development Strategy for the centre of Nelahozeves

Nelahozeves is a well-known Czech locality as the birthplace of composer Antonín Dvořák and for the presence of an important landmark, the late Renaissance Lobkowicz castle. However, the centre of the village, hosting the castle and the native house of the famous Czech composer, is affected by several spatial problems in contrast with this site's historical and cultural dimension and the needs of the local inhabitants.

Therefore We have developed an Integrated Urban Development Strategy for the centre of Nelahozeves and the property of the Lobkowicz family. The strategic plan seeks to coordinate the intentions of the municipality and the Lobkowicz family. The document provides a comprehensive development vision regarding amenities, public spaces, mobility and management. The strategy is the first step towards the village centre's coordinated, sustainable and meaningful development.

Integrated Development Strategy (ISUR) for Rokytnice nad Jizerou

Rokytnice nad Jizerou is known to many people as a tourist centre for outdoor activities. But what is it like to live in the town outside the tourist season? The town of Rokytnice wants to be above all a pleasant place to live for its citizens. That is why we were chosen to develop an Integrated Development Strategy (ISUR), which combines strategic and spatial planning approaches. It has the advantage of linking social and economic issues with urban planning, the quality of buildings in the city and transport solutions. 

Local residents were also involved in the preparation of the strategy - there was a great interest in discussing the future of Rokytnice and the meeting, which was attended by almost 60 citizens, exceeded all our expectations. Also thanks to the findings of the meeting, together with the working group we formulated a vision and goals for the development of the town for the period 2022-2035. The vision promotes an increase in population, the use of brownfields for the urban development, the revitalization of important public spaces and the equal combination of the functioning of tourism and the life of the locals. The vision also articulates the need to establish cooperation between the city and the Administration of Krkonoše National Park. Translated with DeepL

Florenc 21 – International Urban Design Competition

Florenc is situated about 1 000 m to the east of the Old Town Square, on the border of the New Town (Prague 1 District) and Karlín (Prague 8 District). Its present character is shaped by transportation infrastructure including bus terminal, train station and metropolitan arterial road. At the same time it is the largest brownfield in the city center.

The purpose of this urban design competition is to identify and reward the best integrated proposal for the competition area. The winner shall present a comprehensive, economically feasible, environmentally sustainable and socially equitable regeneration vision that will encourage key stakeholders for its implementation.

Conceptual framework for post reclamation use of the ČSA quarry

The CSA quarry is an opencast lignite quarry near the town of Most in the Ústí Nad Labem Region. The area affected by its mining activities is approximately 45.4 km2. With the planned end of mining in 2024, there is a need to coordinate the revitalisation and development of this large area, especially in a situation where the area falls under several cadastral areas and municipalities.

The reclamation planned for the quarry site entails the creation of a lake with water filling the open pits. The creation of a water basin was our stepping stone to conceiving the initial sustainable development framework. The proposal covers three interrelated pillars of sustainability: social, economic and environmental. In the context of the transition from conventional coal-fired power generation to renewable energy, the proposal aims to:

• create a new landscape with a lake,

• produce and store energy from renewable sources,

• build a new, low-carbon settlement,

• create conditions for opening facilities dedicated to science and research, especially in the climate-tech sector.

To achieve these ambitious goals, the public and business sectors will have to work together, with significant involvement of local communities.

NK31 – Strategy for the Development of Culture and Creative Industries of Nitra

Nitra approached us with a request for methodological assistance with the creation of the Strategy for the Development of Culture and Creative Industries for the years 2021–2031. The document, which was nicknamed NK31, was prepared by Nitra as part of its candidacy for the title of European Capital of Culture for 2026. And 33 organizations and 100 members of the Nitra cultural scene were involved in its creation. The document will become an important part of the path to making Nitra a vibrant cultural city.

Milada Lake – International landscape-urban-architectural competition

In the 1970s, between Ústí Nad Labem and Chabařovice, the Chabařovice opencast quarry was established gradually covering an area of almost 9 km². After 24 years, the quarry was closed. Extensive reclamation followed, and in less than 20 years, a completely new landscape with Lake Milada opened up to the people. The reclamation process was not the end of the story, however, as this part of the region had to be integrated into the everyday life of the inhabitants of the surrounding villages and towns, as well as visitors who come here to relax.

The Lake Milada landscape-urban-architectural competition organized by us was one of the first competitions in the Czech Republic to address a complete strategy for transforming a post-mining landscape over more than 10 km². The contestants' task was to find a solution that would consider the interests and needs of all target groups so that in the future, this large area will be a whole part of the life of all people living here. The competition winner, Swedish studio Mandaworks, was announced in June 2021.

Integrated Strategy of Urban Development of Broumov city centre

The city's aim was to return business and social life to the historic center of the city, to prepare the conditions for the development of tourism and to solve transport problems. Our Integrated strategy, adapted from the German methodology of ISEK, ie. Integräertes städtebauliches Entwicklungskonzeptthus, addresses issues such as the quality of public spaces and green spaces, retail and services, employment, social issues, property revenues and transport solutions, including parking. Great emphasis is placed on the development of retail and public spaces in Broumov as well as using culture as a tool for revitalizing the city. The design part of the Strategy addresses three main areas of development - Sustainable economic development of the wider city center, Public spaces, urbanism and building culture and Sustainable mobility, transport and parking in the wider city center.

The Strategy will become the basis for Broumov's candidacy for the European Capital of Culture 2028.

Strategic Development for Invalidovna

After a long public debate about its fate, the Baroque pearl from the works of Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer was entrusted to the care of the National Monuments Institute (NPÚ) in 2018.

ONplan was commissioned by the NPÚ management to create a strategic development framework together with NPÚ experts and the main stakeholders of community, cultural and business life in the Karlín area, which will be the basis for commissioning an architectural study and subsequent reconstruction of the building. Invalidovna should become a multifunctional place where both local and foreign visitors will come and find their interest, a place that will be vibrant and alive 24/7.

 As a flagship of the NPÚ, the Invalidovna building should be representing the cultural heritage of the Czech Republic to local and foreign visitors, and thus entice tourists to visit not only Prague but the regions as well. According to the strategy, a centre for the creation and presentation of Czech cultural and creative industries should be established in the building, as well as a place for community activities of residents and educational and research activities of the NPÚ.

International landscape-architectural competition for the design of a memorial to the Holocaust victims in Lety u Písku

Lety u Písku is located on the border between Central and South Bohemia, about a one-hour drive from Prague. During World War II, a so-called "Gypsy camp" established near the village centre was operating as a transfer station for those Czech Roma and Sinti on their way to concentration camps, which most of them never returned from.

Furthermore, in the 1970s, the area of the former camp was converted into a large-scale pig farm. Such circumstance has amplified the tragic dimension of the site, violating once more the dignity of Holocaust victims. Finally, in 2018, following many years of protests, the Czech State bought the pig farm and handed it over to the Museum of Romani Culture. The memorial can rise on an authentic site associated with the Holocaust of Roma and Sinti in Europe.

At ONplan, we were aware of the responsibility taken as the competition's organizer. The memorial should be located there as a dignified place of remembrance for the survivors and also as a place for all generations to reflect on contemporary issues of racism and the protection of human rights and freedom.

Therefore, to ensure the success of the competition, it was necessary to involve since the preparation of the assignment, the families of the survivors of the victims, i.e., the original Czech Roma and Sinti, as well as the general professional public of historians, Roma scholars and curators. The winning proposal should be accepted by the Czech Roma and in professional circles. Furthermore, the landscape and architectural design of the new memorial should stimulate public interest in the history of the Czech Roma and Sinti.

A strategic plan for a city that has doubled in size

The population of Hostivice has doubled since 2000. Like other settlements in the Prague metropolitan area, Hostivice has become a popular destination for households looking for housing in the outskirts of Prague. 

Therefore, the main task for the preparation of the strategic plan was to figure out how to cope with such a dynamic population growth, so that the town does not become just a dormitory, but preserves its historical and natural values and creates an environment for a full life for both old residents and newcomers. 

Local government, political leadership and key municipal employees were involved in the development of the strategic plan from the beginning. They see the strategy as their tool to help them better target and coordinate the development of the city. The strategic plan includes an action plan linked to the budget. Translated with DeepL

Public participation on the revitalisation of the Odkolek industrial complex

Metrostav Development became the owner of the former Odkolek industrial complex –former bakeries, at the end of 2017, with an already existing project to transform the area into a residential area. However, they decided to create a new project, in which they wanted to involve the local community living in the Krocínka district above the bakery complex. The investor wanted the new district which will be built in the place of the current brownfield to respond to the needs of the local community and bring value not only to new residents, but also to the current inhabitants of this part of Vysočany. 

The course of the project preparations, including land management, was openly communicated with the locals. During the neighbourhood meeting with a map, the investor and the architects got acquainted with the needs and interests of the inhabitants, which were then included in the design of the revitalization. The principles of revitalization were presented at an open day, and three months later the concept of revitalization was introduced. Subsequently, a public consultation of the proposal took place. Comments have been settled. Only after the completion of this participatory process was the project documentation completed.

Competition Workshop: New future of Mlýnský ostrov

As part of the revitalization of an 10 ha area near the historic centre of Pardubice, we have organised whole process including urban competition through urban workshop. Before the workshop there were conducted individual interviews and profiles of 18 key stakeholders and owners in the area. These actors then met at 2 round tables where they discussed a common vision of development. We  regularly informed public on activities and outcomes through an information campaign.

Based on collected data, a competitive workshop was prepared and implemented. Thanks to this workshop we selected the author of the land regulation plan and  defined widely shared vision of Mlýnský ostrov development. So the winner of the competition workshop subsequently drew this vision into the form of a land regulation plan.

Technopark Střekov: Rescue of an industrial heritage as an impulse for local economic development

The municipal district of Ústí nad Labem  Střekov initiated a project to revitalize the heritage-listed building of a steam waterworks with a cistern built in neoclassical style according to the plan of architect Carl Schlimp, the author of the magnificent and now defunct Prague – Těšnov railway station. 

The concept took the form of a preliminary feasibility study, identified the target groups, the experiences and services offered to them, including themes for interpretation, and modelled the investment and operating costs and income from running the technopark. An important aspect is the linking of the technopark's activities to existing attractions: the Zubrnice railway and the Elbe cycle path, with which it creates the necessary synergies. The concept was developed with the involvement of future project partners, including SŽDC (Railway Infrastructure Administration).

Culture Development Concept of the City of Tišnov

Tišnov is a town of 9,000 inhabitants in the prosperous Brno metropolitan area. It was one of the first Czech towns of this size that decided to create a cultural development concept. The city considers the offer of cultural and community activities as a prerequisite for a high quality of life in the city. 

The preparation of the concept helped the city to lead a discussion on the goals and direction of cultural and community activities in the city among politicians and officials of the municipality and the management of the city's contributory organisations. This gave the contributory organisations a clear mandate for their activities. The concept deals with the offer of programmes for individual target groups, cultural spaces with a focus on the revitalisation and improvement of public spaces and the deepening of cooperation between the various entities and the improvement of their marketing.

Masaryk Railway Station is conceived as an important place for social and business life, a meeting place which people will not simply cross but where they will find a pleasant environment for work and entertainment. This is „Masaryčka spojuje“ – 'Masaryčka connects'. 

The surrounding of the Masaryk Railway Station is at the core of Prague and its potential remains undeveloped for decades. After years of discussions about the future of the Masaryk Railway Station and the search for a vision for the entire territory, it was decided to maintain the station's function and revitalize the area. Historical buildings undergo renovation and a brownfield adjacent to the railways will find new uses.

Zaha Hadid Architect's Design creates a new high-quality public space in the area that will improve the permeability of the area and will fulfill recreational and social functions. The revitalization wants to make a better use of the transport hub and strengthen the function of the center of Prague as a center of the new economy with a high added value, which should complement today's preferred orientation for tourism.

Revitalization of a cultural site in Nusle with the involvement of the public and cultural-creative industries.

The site is one of the largest Czech breweries of the 19th and its surroundings partly declared a cultural monument and forms a barrier in the heart of Nusle.

The goal of this revitalization project is to return social and business activities to the area, to maintain the existing historical part of the site and introduce living area in place of the current running down warehouses. The brewery will be open to the public. New public spaces will be created along the Botič stream and provide opportunities for leisure activities.

Set up of planning processes to include the vision of the community into a viable community development strategy and communication management with the main actors.

Lichoceves has a great potential for its development due to its close location to Prague.

The vision of "Lichoceves – village in a garden", designed by the architect Pavel Hnilička, wants to become a exemplary model of construction in the outskirts of Prague. It is based on the concept of a garden city, which combines the benefits of life in the countryside and the city, respects the landscape, develops the current values of the place, and at the same time solves the specific issues of the village. The vision is developed in cooperation with local government and the population.

The area of the former Jan Žižka Barracks in Tábor was abandoned by soldiers in 2003. The area of 7 ha is owned by the city and remains unused for a long time. Thanks to its size, a good accessibility of the site and its location close to the historic center, it is a key development area of Tábor.

The town of Tábor is preparing a long-term concept for the revitalization of the complex, which will enable the creation of a quality residential area with the necessary civic amenities. The city wants to develop a layout plan, build infrastructure and then start the revitalization. ONplan has prepared a demographic prognosis for the city and an analysis of supply and demand for housing with a prediction of housing needs over a 15 years horizon, based on the analysis of land use functions and typology of buildings.

From Palmovka NEW to Palmovka vision 2030

During the project "Palmovka Vision 2030" we developed cooperation with Prague 8 and Prague’s main urban planning actors in the area to map the current situation and to identify the main potential of the whole area in order to find the most suitable path for future development. We incite the debate about Palmovka future by organizing exhibitions in public space where we introduced the outputs of analytical studies. We also organised panel discussions with public, representatives of the city district and Prague City Hall and involved students of local schools through commented tours and workshops.

Preparation of a development strategy for a non-state cultural and educational organisation

The Cultural Heart of Broumov Region  Broumov Monastery underwent major reconstructions last 10 years.  Educational and Cultural Centre of Broumov Monastery (VKCB) opened monastery to public through a large number of educational and cultural activities for both local and international audiences.

With both VKCB management and employees, we analysed dynamic development of recent years and developed shared vision and objectives for future development as well as specific tasks to fulfil this vision. During whole process we involved key actors of the region, from city representatives to the largest regional employers.

Strategy for Culture and Creativity of Pardubice

The goal of the Strategy for Culture and Creativity of Pardubice (Strategy), which is approved for 20182024 period, is to contribute to the better use of the cultural resources of Pardubice, to improve the quality of life of the local population, to strengthen economic development and to strengthen social cohesion. Our work was based on combination of exceptionally complex data analysis and active involvement of large cultural community.

The OnPlan team was involved in creating the first version of  strategy in 2014 and during the autumn of 2017 we methodically led the evaluation of the two-year analytical conclusions and the redesign of the strategic part in cooperation with the City hall representatives and cultural actors. The document was successfully approved by the Pardubice Council in November 2017.

CCI Mapping in Strategy for Culture and Creativity of Pardubice

In 2014 we mapped cultural and creative industries (KKO) in Pardubice, thus 672 entities and cultural and creative industries accounted for a total of 5.4% of the East Bohemian region's employment. The mapping results were used to formulate Pardubice Strategy for Culture and Creativity, the implementation of which can build on knowledge of  specific needs of the whole sector. The mapping was supported by the Institute by Arts and Theatre Institute. 

Preparation of a development strategy for the Kinský Family Žďár Castle

The entire castle complex of the Kinský family with the adjacent forests covering an area of over 5,500 hectares is a unique asset of the Vysočina Region. Two different worlds meet in the castle environment. In addition to forestry, fishing, sport fishing and commercial activities, there is a wide range of innovative cultural events, a multimedia exhibition on the history of the monastery and its surroundings, the Museum of the New Generation, as well as an exhibition of Baroque painting and sculpture from the collections of the National Gallery in Prague outside the capital of the Czech Republic. As part of the planned development of the property, ONplan has prepared a strategy for the development of key activities with a focus on the economic sustainability of the planned investments. The formulation of a sustainable business model was prepared together with the employees of both Žďár Castle and Kinský a.s., whose synergies the new model will benefit most from.

Brno's Culture and Creative industries Strategy

City of Brno has decided to strengthen the indisputable role of culture in city development through Culture and Creativity Strategy. Together with city lead experts and responsible policy makers we prepare a detailed process of completing the strategy, including the involvement of different types of key stakeholders. The methodology included the creation of logical framework between analytical outputs and the final strategy together with specific tasks contained in action plans. 

Economic impact analysis of the investment in Vodňany

During 2014, the town of Vodňany faced a crucial decision if  the town let Austrian woodworking company Holzindustrie Schweighofer GmbH invest CZK4bn on towns area. We analysed complete methodology of EIA (economic impact analyses) of this investment. The final work was divided into two parts: 1. assessment of the outputs of the economic impact on the structure of the economy and unemployment; and 2. assessment of the outputs of the economic impact on the incomes and expenditures of the city. 

Revitalisation strategy for the Opava historical centre

The area behind the former Silesian department store is located right in the historical centre of Opava. The original area was demolished after the war and no suitable use has yet been found for this large area.

Thanks to strong engagement of local civic society there was a huge demand for public involvement in all stages of future solution. We prepared an extensive survey for the city with more than 800 answers. At the same time, more than 50 participants discussed future development over the map and urban walks in the territory. There were 27 structured interviews with the main actors, representatives of all major social institutions, city management, entrepreneurs and representatives of civic society. 

Mapping cultural and creative indstruies as a basis for the city's decision to transform the Baroque preaching into a creative centre

Gaining importance of Cultural and Creative industries of Brno have increased the need of South Moravian Innovation Centre (JIC) to systematically work and develop this phenomenon. The results of the quantitative mapping show that in Brno it is possible to include 11 254 economically active subjects among the cultural and creative industries, ie 10% of all the economic entities of the city. The identified needs of the actors created basis for shaping the content of planned Creative Centre on Cejl in former baroque preaching in city centre. The mapping was supported by Arts and Theatre Institute.

How the DEPO 2015 concept for the European Culture Capital Pilsen 2015 was developed 

The flagship of European Culture Capital Pilsen 2015 is DEPO 2015. The operation of the space is based on business model prepared in cooperation with ONplan team. Since the beginning of the whole process, we focused mainly on the long-term sustainability of the whole project and insertion of a creative incubator into the urban economic ecosystem, the creation of the business model was preceded by the mapping of cultural and creative sector needs in the city, supported by Arts and Theatre Institute. Current DEPO 2015 connects culture with business and, apart from artistic studios and offices, residents and small entrepreneurs in the Pilsen creative sector find, for example, Marker space, a shared workshop place equipped with modern and traditional technologies or modern cafe. 

How creative Olomouc is?

In 2015 City of Olomouc declared a clear effort to develop potential of cultural and creative industries in Olomouc. Together with Arts and Theatre Institute and Palacky University in Olomouc we prepared a professional and methodological background for mapping cultural and creative industries carried out by the University.

Preparation of methodology for the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic

The experience gained with the quantitative and qualitative mapping of cultural and creative industries was used in the Methodology of Mapping of Cultural and Creative Industries certified by Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic. The methodology includes a total of 12 industries ranging from design to stage art including a description of mapping methods. OnPlan team was invited by Arts and Theatre Institute to work on methodology, as part of  research project "Mapping of Cultural and Creative Industries in the Czech Republic", supported by the NAKI program, to identify the project identification code DF11P010VV031.

Sladovna Marketing strategy

The Malt (Sladovna) Gallery game is a Czech leader in the field of game galleries for children. It is inspired by so-called children's museums in Europe and around the world. OnPlan team was invited to collaborate on Marketing Study at the time of thinking about the further development of Sladovna. Marketing study compared foreign examples and tried to identify future profile of  visitor and needs he wants to fulfill in Sladovna Gallery.