Studio Hnilička

Libčice is located approximately 20 minutes by train north of Prague. Directly next to the railway station lies a large, neglected industrial complex of a former bolt factory, awaiting future redevelopment. Several early examples of new uses have already appeared in the area, such as the Uhelný Mlýn and Kotelna projects by Patrik Hoffman (see https://uhelnymlyn.cz/) or the factory of the furniture company LUGI.
The extensive site stretches along the Vltava River and offers beautiful views of the opposite Větrušice gorges. Along the river, this section still lacks a continuous segment of the Prague–Dresden cycling route, which needs to be completed. In the summer semester 2026, the assignment will address both urban design and individual buildings. The entire studio will focus on a single site in order to achieve a high level of concentration and depth on one shared topic.

Urban Design

The assignment covers the entire strip along the railway line (Site A), extending both toward the river and along Letecká Street. Between the railway and the water, we assume the preservation of several significant industrial buildings and exploration of ways to reuse the brownfield site.
The area between the railway and Letecká Street offers space for local urban interventions and infill development. A key theme will be reconnecting the brownfield with the city, as it currently functions as a separated area (a typical rust belt), as well as addressing the landscape strip along the river. Within the site, we will seek appropriate uses and proportions for public spaces. The size of the area is approximately 40 hectares. This scale is sufficient for students to understand and manage the dimensions of urban public spaces, while still allowing the task to be fully developed within a single semester.

Buildings

For building design, we propose civic buildings such as a secondary school, a community hall, and a senior residence. In addition, students may develop housing projects with a focus ideally in non-standard configurations, such as starter apartments combined with work studios and workshops, or “apartments within apartments” for contemporary forms of cohabitation that differ from the typical nuclear family (see, for example, https://www.mehralswohnen.ch/ or https://kraftwerk.zuerich/).
The buildings will be located directly adjacent to the railway station in the northern part of the site (Site B). Building designs will be based on the regulatory plan and urban study by the PHAP studio, which define the basic structure of the area. We therefore anticipate multiple design solutions for a single building plot.

The assignment may be completed individually or in groups of 2–3 students. On March 23–24 (Sunday–Tuesday), we have reserved the KRUH venue for concept presentations and consultations. Additional activities are also planned directly in Libčice, which is easily accessible within 20 minutes by train from Prague.
The final presentation is intended to be public and held outside the school studio, with invited guests, allowing students to gain experience presenting with a microphone to a broader audience.