A new Waste to Energy plant and surrounding park in České Budějovice, Czechia. The aim of the project is to create a destination that becomes an integral part of the city. Where inhabitants as well as visitors will benefit from the new waste-to-energy plant in their everyday life. By connecting the surrounding park with the roofscape of the building, a natural integration between building and landscape is formed and a new public space and viewpoint in the city is created. The transition also provides a safe division between public accessible and industrial areas, avoiding the need for fences and borders.
The project was awarded 1st prize in two out of three themes for the invited competition, both the design of the Waste-to-Energy plant itself as well as the wider urban concept for the area. Including a new public park and urban strategy for a future development area of České Budějovice.
LOCATION
YEAR
STATUS
PROGRAM
CLIENT
TEAM
COLLABORATION
VISUALIZATION
2023
1st prize
Technical building
ZEVO Vráto
Hanna Johansson, Juras Lasovsky
OMGEVING, Landscape and Urban office
VISION
Wider area The new Waste-to-Energy plant becomes an integral part of the city of České Budějovice. The existing surrounding wetland area is transformed into a new park, with new soft infrastructure connecting the area to the city center.
Landscape and building The new plant becomes an integrated part in the landscape. Rather than trying to hide and separate the industrial premises the proposal takes the opportunity to create a building that is giving public space back to the surroundings and the neighbourhood.
Concept The minimal volume of the technical requirements is wrapped with a new facade. Resulting in a three leveled volume with ramps on both sides leading up to the public accessible roof. The landscape towards the park is elevated to create a safe and barrier-free access between the new park area and the roofscape of the building. With this, a clear division between industrial and public accessible areas are created without additional need of fences and borders.
URBAN CONTEXT
Context The proposal for the wider context presents a future development area of České Budějovice, A new diverse neighbourhood where the urban pattern is defined by the existing green areas, transforming it from a green corridor into a climate-robust backbone for the whole development. A network of cycling links connects the different areas to the park and city centre.
A NEW PUBLIC SPACE
A new public space The three layered volume creates a new public space in the city. Offering both more intimate spaces for recreation as well as large flexible areas for events and gatherings. The public accessible areas are clearly separated from the operational areas for the industry.
ZEVO SITE
The main connections for soft mobility plays the fundamental role of hosting activities that strengthen the local community while leaving space for biodiversity.
The design aims to protect and restore the existing ecosystem as well as to create new ones to offer a diversified nature experience.
The appearance of the park changes with the seasons. Using the excess heat from the technology inside the plant an accessible and wheelchair friendly path is ensured all year around.
The main connections for soft mobility plays the fundamental role of hosting activities that strengthen the local community while leaving space for biodiversity.
"The more time you waste, the more space you gain"
View from the technical part of the complex
The stepped volume reflects the requirements for maximum height and mass based on industrial technology.
PLANS
View from park From far the new waste-to-energy plant becomes a sculpture in the landscape, rising up from the ground and providing a seamless transition between landscape and building.
Section short
North
South
Section short
At the top floor, with direct access to the sunken rooftop terrace and garden, a zero-waste restaurant is located. Offering panoramic views over the city and surrounding region. From furniture to food-waste, the restaurant showcases in a smaller scale how a future zero-waste way of living can be implemented.
Rooms for exhibitions, activities and education provide views into the waste bunker.
Along the paths pockets in the facade provides views into the technology. Allowing visitors learn about the processes of the waste-to-energy plant.
At the top floor, with direct access to the sunken rooftop terrace and garden, a zero-waste restaurant is located. Offering panoramic views over the city and surrounding region. From furniture to food-waste, the restaurant showcases in a smaller scale how a future zero-waste way of living can be implemented.
PUBLIC PROGRAM
FACADE
Facade The idea of the facade is to resemble a fabric that is wrapped around the technology, creating a layered and soft appearance of the building volume. Perforated aluminium panels are repeated around the volume and creating a modular facade system. Behind the perforated facade four different types of build-up elements exists depending on the technical requirements - glass wall (offices), acoustic panels (where needed to absorb noise), exposed concreted (waste bunker etc) and open perforated panels for ventilation.
Night view At night the perforated facade can be illuminated in different ways, allowing the technology glimpse through or highlighting the paths going up to the roof.
MODEL