About project
Our competition proposal, which came second in the competition, for the western edge of Olomouc is based on the unique location of the area on the border between the city and the open countryside. We see the site, which until now has remained an empty gap with verdant greenery, as an opportunity to create a new residential district with a human scale, responding to the contrasting character of its surroundings, the urban structure, the historic village of Neředín and the open landscape with its distinctive horizon.
Instead of a classic satellite development, we propose a contemporary urban structure that can offer the tranquility of living in the green without resigning to urban quality and neighbourhood.
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Client
GEMO
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Year
2025
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Location
Nová Okružní - Olomouc
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Visualisations
Ján Martin Púčik
Petr Matějka -
Architecture
Ján Antal
Kristýna Blažíčková
Daniel Krupka
Ľuba Ondrejkovičová
Dariia Edunova -
Landscape
Richard Labanc
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Transport
ALFAPROJEKT, Ing. Petr Staněk
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Living close to nature
The area in question is located on the western outskirts of Olomouc, near the Neředín district. The hitherto unused gap with greenery lies at the distinct interface between the city and the open countryside. Its surroundings are made up of contrasting structures, a modernist housing estate and family houses on the one hand, the historic village buildings of Neředín on the other, and open countryside with a characteristic horizon on the other.
It is this location, together with existing infrastructure constraints, particularly the route of the main water main, that creates a strong basis for the design of the new urban district. The design responds to the surrounding fragmentation and offers an alternative to the classic satellite development – contemporary housing that links the urban fabric with the proximity of the countryside.
Connecting urban and rural scale
The urban concept is based on the contrasting character of the surroundings of the area under consideration. On the one hand there is the city with compact, multi-storey buildings, on the other hand the open countryside and smaller rural structures. Our proposal does not see these different worlds as opposites, but as an opportunity to connect them. Urban Village combines the intensity and legibility of the city with the permeability, greenness and human scale of the village.
The result is a contemporary residential structure in which apartment buildings, viladoms and townhouses naturally meet. The variety of typologies, along with the emphasis on quality public space, creates an environment that is lively, uncluttered and livable in the long term.
Structure of the new urban district
We are developing the principles of Urban Village on the scale of the entire new neighbourhood. At its heart is a central public space with the character of a square and a park, which connects the individual blocks and naturally becomes a meeting place and a landmark of the entire locality.
The development is designed as a mosaic of different types of housing. Near the central area, more compact apartment buildings appear, followed by viladoms and townhouses, which gradually transition towards the countryside into a looser structure of family houses. This transformation responds to the surrounding environment and provides a seamless transition between the city and the countryside.
The public space is clearly hierarchical and complemented by front gardens, semi-public courtyards and green street profiles. These reinforce the relationship between the house and the street and naturally support the formation of neighbourhoods and everyday community life.
Typology of buildings
The design works with the contrast between the city and the landscape and reflects it in the composition of the individual typologies. The Urban Village combines compact apartment buildings, viladoms and terraced townhouses that blend naturally in the area and respond to the changing scale of the surroundings.
The denser and more urban forms of housing are concentrated near the central public space, while towards the countryside the development gradually relaxes and transitions into smaller, low-rise types. The variety of building typologies provides a diverse housing offer and supports the creation of balanced, vibrant and sustainable neighbourhoods with an emphasis on the quality of the public realm.
Typical block
The basic building element of the proposal is a residential block that combines different levels of public and private space. It is designed to support residents’ daily life, socialising and tranquillity.
At the heart of the block is a central public park with mature greenery, which serves not only the residents but also the wider surroundings. Small businesses, such as a café and local retail, are oriented towards the park and are complemented by sports fields and children’s playgrounds.
The park is followed by semi-private courtyards, naturally defined by the surrounding houses. These offer space for community activities – gardens, barbecues or children’s play. The ground floor apartments are complemented by private front gardens that create a seamless transition between the interior and exterior.
The block is enclosed by a residential street with a shared character that provides service to the houses while extending the living space towards the street. This creates a clear and lively structure in which public, semi-public and private spaces naturally intermingle.
