No Demo Znojmo

Idea projektu

No Demo Znojmo envisions the gradual regeneration of a fragmented district at the northern edge of Znojmo’s historic center—an area deeply marked by the legacy of socialist urbanism, which disrupted the continuity and character of the city. Rather than erasing this past through demolition, the project embraces a strategy of careful transformation: integrating isolated post-war structures into a coherent urban fabric, adapting existing buildings, and reactivating spaces with new social, cultural, and economic functions. From the reuse of the former municipal baths to the conversion of defunct infrastructure, the proposal demonstrates that meaningful urban change can arise not through tabula rasa, but through a respectful, layer-by-layer evolution that reconnects the city’s history with its future.

Popis projektu

No Demo Znojmo is an urban design project focused on the transformation of a fragmented district at the edge of Znojmo’s historic center—an area where three distinct city models collide: the medieval town, the 19th-century block structure, and the modernist city shaped by socialist planning. The project addresses the consequences of past interventions—particularly the disruptive impact of post-war urbanism, which introduced solitary buildings, vast road infrastructure, and undefined spaces that fractured the city's continuity. Instead of pursuing a clean-slate approach, No Demo Znojmo proposes a future rooted in continuity, memory, and incremental change. At its core is a commitment to preservation through adaptation. Existing structures—such as the disused municipal baths and heating plant—are reimagined as catalysts for social and architectural regeneration. New infill development weaves together the urban fabric, recreates clear spatial hierarchies, and introduces mixed-use blocks that combine housing, commerce, and public amenities. Demolition is reduced to a minimum and used only where safety or functionality demands it. Elsewhere, the design strategy is to “frame the existing”: transforming rather than replacing, supplementing rather than erasing. This approach allows the district to grow organically into a cohesive, livable, and socially vibrant neighborhood that reconciles past and future—and demonstrates that good urbanism doesn’t need to begin from scratch.

Technické informace

No Demo Znojmo is an urban design proposal focused on the revitalization of the area surrounding Náměstí Svobody, square at the northern edge of Znojmo’s historic center. The project responds to a fragmented urban structure, shaped by post-war construction and modernist planning interventions. Its primary ambition is to restore the continuity of the city without large-scale demolition—through renovations, extensions, and the integration of existing buildings into a newly defined urban fabric. The programmatic layout of the site is mixed-use. New urban blocks are predominantly polyfunctional, with commercial spaces (services, retail, small businesses) on the ground floor and a range of residential units above—from compact studios to larger family apartments and maisonettes in row houses. Public amenities include a community center housed in the converted municipal baths, a kindergarten, and sports and leisure facilities such as a bike park and skate park. A former heating plant is proposed for transformation into a small brewery or a socio-cultural venue. The total area covers approximately 9.5 hectares. The proposal defines two major public spaces: the redesigned Náměstí Svobody, a central pedestrian axis aligned with Znojmo’s Green Ring, and the newly proposed Stanislavovo Square, which connects the existing panel housing with new urban structures. The adjacent Horní Park is extended and better defined, improving its social oversight and spatial quality. The new buildings range predominantly between three and four stories, maintaining compatibility with the historic city’s scale. Existing panel buildings (up to eight stories) are retained and partially revitalized—for example, by activating their ground floors or adding row-house extensions. The new development respects the logic of 19th-century block structures while creating a transition toward the solitary buildings of the modernist era. Transport is addressed with the future completion of the city bypass, allowing for the calming of Pražská Street. A new roundabout will improve traffic flow into the city center. Each new block includes its own underground garage, and two larger shared parking structures are proposed: one public garage beneath Náměstí Svobody, and another embedded within the new block structure. Outdated and unsafe individual garages will be removed. The local public transit stop is relocated closer to the center. Pedestrian pathways are reinforced and integrated into the broader network of Znojmo’s Green Ring and a sequence of public piazzas extending from the historic core. The project offers a comprehensive yet sensitive approach to urban renewal. Rather than erasing the existing context, it builds upon it through transformation, adaptation, and gradual integration—resulting in a cohesive, vibrant, and socially sustainable neighborhood.