Schindler's Legacy Village

Project idea

The project aims to create a space that meets the local needs of Brnenec residents, while also considering the significant regional landmark of Oskar Schindler's factory. Understanding the factory's historical significance was crucial. The local topography guided the development to fill the urban gap left by the collapse of parts of the factory. The centrally located area, with excellent transport links, is ideal for a local center with a separate sustainable residential village.

The concept includes an urban axis from the southern part to Oskar Schindler Square in the north. Along this axis, there are various squares, some more accessible to outsiders than others. A green buffer zone clearly separates public and private areas and serves as a space for local events. The axis has branches in key directions outside the project scope. In the north, the main path splits into two: one leading through a green woonerf between existing halls, and the other through a revitalized hall, both ending at Oskar Schindler Square.

Project description

The project involves creating a space that addresses the local needs of Brnenec residents, while also considering the location of a very important landmark in the entire region: Oskar Schindler's factory. An important aspect of the entire concept was understanding the history related to the factory's activities.

The topography of the immediate vicinity clearly defined the way we should shape and complement the urban fabric, which, due to the collapse of parts of the factory, has left a significant gap in the town's development. The central location of the area, with close connections to rail and road transport, is ideally suited for a local center with a suitably separated sustainable residential village.

In our concept, we created an urban axis running from the southern part to Oskar Schindler Square in the northern part. Along the entire axis, there are squares that are more or less accessible to people from outside the village. A green buffer zone clearly marks the boundary between the public and private areas, while also serving as a space for local events for Brnenec residents. The urban axis connecting the whole has diverging paths in important directions that are beyond our scope of work. In the northern part, the main path splits into two main paths. One leads through a green woonerf between the existing halls, which we plan to develop in the future with similar functions to the currently revitalized Schindler factories, and the other leads through the revitalized hall, integrating it into the entire urban plan. Both paths end at the most historically significant point: Oskar Schindler Square.

Technical information

The project is exceptionally sustainable in terms of the technical solutions applied, incorporating numerous ecological measures that have a tangible impact on the lives of the area's users. Primarily, the project employs tall greenery as buffer zones between public, semi-public, and private spaces, while maintaining a high percentage of biologically active surfaces. The woonerf running through the entire area emphasizes our approach to urban design details.

Each building is designed with a unique material, distinct from the surrounding structures, to highlight the typology of the urban layout. This allows each resident to feel the uniqueness of their home and strengthen their sense of identity with it. Some residential buildings feature green roofs, while others are equipped with solar panels, reducing CO2 emissions and reversing the situation the town faced during the factory operations in the same area. Parking areas in the outer zones are equipped with permeable surfaces.

The revitalization of the Svitava River, flowing along our area, is a key element of the entire project. We aimed to ensure that the project provides maximum access to the revitalized river, allowing the two spaces to interconnect. To achieve this, we placed functions such as an amphitheater, footbridges crossing to the other side of the river, and paths running along its course.