How does the immediate surroundings affect the character of the park?
If you imagine a park in a housing estate and then next to an older development, it will probably look different in your imagination. Architecture and design should respond to their surroundings. When designing the park, the immediate surroundings are the main inspiration for us. Otherwise, we approach the design of a park in the center of the city and another approach to a park on its outskirts. Our designs create attractive spaces that match the location and specific needs of local residents. We will show what factors influence the resulting character of the city park.
Finding the identity of a place
High-quality public spaces are those that invite you to stop and stay, are lively and actively used. This also applies to parks. Uninteresting and anonymous places will not attract attention, and people will probably not find the motivation to visit them regularly. It is the attractiveness of the place that divides public spaces into those actively used by all age groups and those abandoned and perhaps even dangerous. Finding the identity of a place is a big challenge and we try to create places that stick in your memory and make you want to visit them again and again.
Husův park in Prague's Čakovice represents an example of work with place identity within our implementations. The very name of the park was our biggest inspiration. The legacy of Jan Hus has made its way into the identity of the place, on the one hand by referring to the date of his burning in the form of placing apple trees in 6 x 7 rows or as part of a quote on the water element.
Quality public space as a place that connects
Having somewhere to go and something to do together is a prerequisite for community functioning. A high-quality public space often becomes the initiator for the creation of a neighborhood community. That is why we design a city park in such a way that people are close to each other, that they want to talk, that they want to meet again in this place. There must be enough places to sit or share a common activity, to give existing communities the opportunity to live together.
When designing, we think about all age groups and various relaxation options. These aspects determine the overall character of the park. Families with children will appreciate children's playgrounds, teenagers will appreciate parkour, a skate park or a fitness bar, and seniors will enjoy sitting quietly on a comfortable bench in the middle of flower beds.
The possibility of getting together and community life in Prague's Stromovka was supported by picnic places. Thanks to the thoughtfulness of their users and regular maintenance, they have been making the people of Prague happy for several years. At the same time, we managed to literally stamp the identity of the place in the form of leaf prints into the concrete platform.
Paths in the park
When designing, we must also pay attention to the material side of things. If the park is not just a place where we go for a walk when we have time, but is part of the walking routes in the entire city system. We must ensure that the road surface is comfortable and passable. The main routes should be passable all year round, on the other hand, we suggest areas that we want to calm down, for example, with a threshing floor. The width of the roads is also related to the accessibility of the parks, which we adapt to the load of individual road sections and the way of use.
You can see how we worked with different types of roads – historic and new pavements, asphalt roads and new modern stairs – in the park Thomayerovy sady in Prague.
The importance of furniture placement
Another aspect that affects the character of the place is the furniture. The very placement and rotation of the bench will determine whether it will be used or neglected. The older generation will appreciate the armrests, which will make getting up from the bench more pleasant. Plenty of trash cans significantly reduce clutter. On hot days, park visitors will appreciate a drink. We pay attention to the logical distribution of the furniture within the park, the design of the individual elements and the details of the placement are also important to us. Regular cleaning and quick repair of damaged furniture prevents further vandalism.
Vegetation
The design of the park itself is usually preceded by a dendrological survey, during which we evaluate trees in a state of emergency and trees with no prospects. We will then replace the trees with new ones in the proposal. On the contrary, we will propose promising trees for treatment. When choosing, we respect the conditions of the given place. In the city park, we can also afford a certain amount of exotic trees, which will make the park special. We use the bushes with care, because the park area should remain clear for safety. On the other hand, bushes are a refuge for birds and small animals, so they should not be missing in the park. We like to add a floral detail to areas that are heavily visited and always visible. It can be, for example, a rain bed as part of a rainwater management system. We also use extensive beds, i.e. beds that require little maintenance.
You can see how we used the rain bed and extensive beds in Prague in Jarov - specifically in the U Kněžské louky park. Every spring, bulbs bloom here at the same time - tulips, daffodils and others.
Maintenance
Last but not least, we must not forget the necessity of regular maintenance of the park with sustainability in mind. For example, grassy areas can be divided into those that are mowed regularly and those that offer shelter to insects or birds. We establish such areas as flowery meadows and mow them only twice a year.
Furthermore, we must regularly check the existing trees and ensure any professional intervention - treatment. In order for the park to serve for many years, a maintenance plan must also be prepared. This takes into account the gradual replacement of the so-called woody skeleton - the replacement of old and unpromising woody species with new ones. This exchange must take place continuously, the trees in the park must have a different age structure. If the park is regularly and well cared for, it remains a pleasant and popular place for many years.
