Market Hall Prague

diploma project of studio Koucky Lisecova, Faculty of Architecture, CTU, 2012
location: Klarov, Prague, CZ

motto:

“Food. No other category than this is capable of generating such blissful public experiences. Much more than movies, sex and drugs, which release merely solitary experiences. Even more than work, sports and music, which encourage great but still unambiguous experiences. Food is the chef-cook of an ambiguous national festival. Food prepares a continuous consumptionfestival.

Food narrates urban life.”

Maurice Nio, EAT THIS! Uitgeverij Duizend & Een, 2006, Amsterdam

The task of my diploma project was to design a new market hall in Prague. I chose this because it seems to me, that in many other cities, especially abroad, market halls are places which are able to attract locals as well as tourists. Prague is still missing a place like this. At the same time, farmers markets are more and more popular and the demand for quality and bio products is bigger and bigger.
The site is located on Mala Strana, Klarov, at the bank of the Vltava river. The project should also answer the question: How to design buildings and public places in the historical center of Prague? How to use the potential?

MY APPROACH TO THE SITE AND THE BUILDING

The design must respect the height, volume and proportions of surrounding area.

The house should enclose the south-west part of Klarov Square.

Create acces to the Vltava embankment from Manesuv Bridge.

Visually connect Klarov Square and the Vltava river.

Create a path which goes under Manesuv Bridge and connects embankments on both sides.

TWO HALLS - MULTIFUNCTIONAL AND EATING

The multifunctional hall is a place where all kinds of markets (farmers, flea) take place. It is a one story space, which leads visitors from the city to the river. The space is very flexible, simple stands can be organized in different ways.
Eating hall has two stories. On the first floor you can buy and eat a fast lunch. Visitors can walk out directly to the bank of the river from this floor.
On the second floor there is a culinary center - a place for culinary courses or discussions about food.

FACADES

The outer surface of the building consists of perforated metal plates. The theme of the facade comes from Giuseppe Arcimboldi and his collages. His collages consist of different vegetables, fruits and flowers. Another reason for choosing Italian artist Giuseppe Arciboldi is because he lived and painted in Prague, in the times of the Emperor Rudolf II.