Participace - Nový Hlavák

Current status

The participation in the New Hlavák project has now ended. The results of the participation have been handed over to the Danish studio Henning Larsen Architects as a basis for refining the winning design into an architectural study.

From 24 October, the popular lectures for the public will start again at the Infocentre at the Main Railway Station (see News).

Involving the public in the competition dialogue Nový Hlavák

The document "Summary Report: Public Involvement in the Nový Hlavák Competitive Dialogue" maps the process of the New Hlavák Competitive Dialogue in detail, with an emphasis on the involvement of all its actors, including the public. It clearly describes the different steps that served to inform and involve the public in the competitive dialogue. Including all results (online polls, opinion surveys, etc.) it is now available here for consultation.

Participation information: march-june 2024

From April to June, lectures for the public were held every fourth Thursday of the month at the Railway Administration Information Centre or in the Fanta Building. Visitors had the opportunity to learn more about the winning proposal, the competitive dialogue process and get answers to their questions.

From January to the end of June, a model of the winning design was exhibited in the premises of the Railway Administration Information Centre at the main railway station in Prague. In addition, visitors had the opportunity to view the new design in 3D through special VR glasses.

In June, a public opinion survey was conducted directly in the area of the Prague Central Station and its surroundings. The survey served to present the winning design and collect feedback. The questions were dedicated to a more comprehensive view of the entire New Hlavák design and passengers had the opportunity to perceive and react to changes on the ground based on the current state and visualisations of the new design.

Participation information: february-march 2024

Information and consultation stand for the public on the New Hlavák project

Od 10. until 21 January 2024, an information and consultation stand for the public was placed in the main station's concourse in Prague. Every day, in four-hour shifts (morning or afternoon), interested parties could get to know the winning proposal in detail. They had panels with color visualizations and schematics, a physical 3D model, videos, additional schematics and sections on separate prints, virtual reality goggles, and an attached exhibit parked right next to the booth. Staff were on hand to provide explanatory information, answer questions and also to record the number of visitors, main topics and points of interest. The method of guided introductions and explanations again proved to be very effective in providing a deeper understanding of the information gleaned from the internet, allaying fears and adding context to such a complex project .

At the same time, an electronic survey was being conducted as a key tool for commenting on the proposal. At the stand, the survey could also be completed on a PC, either assisted or independently. Invitations to the event were mainly disseminated through the media of the city districts (Prague 1, 2 and 3) and their social networks, in which the participation and press department staff helped significantly, as well as through the social networks of the project sponsors and partners. The stand was located in a busy place, thus attracting visitors in its own right.

The total number of unique visitors recorded was 1 068. Residents of all ages and social groups came, replicating the normal incidence of people at the main station. Several organized groups (tourist groups with a guide, children's groups, students of the Secondary School of Horticulture in Malešice with a professor, organized groups waiting for a connection) arrived on purpose.

A selection of topics, questions and interesting facts discussed at the stand:

design aesthetics
function hall
tram lines
construction dates
winter in the covered outdoor area
History of the Fanta Building, the New Concourse and the Park
parking spaces
questions on lighting
the control regime (where the boundaries of owners and their responsibility for management and maintenance end)
park valuation in the proposal
self-cleaning foils and technical details of the roof
but also renaming it to "Prague Wilson Station" or where the name "Prague Main Station" will be placed in the future

February 2024, Studio for Public Debate

Already done: january 2024

During January, activities were held to participate in the winning proposal. The public could get to know the winning design in detail at a stand directly in the ticket hall of the main railway station in Prague, where it was also possible to fill in a questionnaire. It was also available online. The results of the participation will be known during the spring of 2024.

10 - 21 January 2024 | Information and consultation stand for the public in the New Apron of the Main Hall
nádraží Praha
10. - 28. 1. 2024 | Survey for the public - collecting feedback on the winning design (online and within
stand in the hall)

Stand opening hours

Already done: december 2023

Report from the meeting on the winning proposal for local residents and workers in the area

A public discussion meeting on the winning design of New Hlavák took place on 13 December 2023 in the Old Building of the National Museum. The aim of the meeting was to introduce the winning design to the participants, explain its parts in detail and get feedback from the participants. The meeting had a presentation part coupled with a moderated panel discussion with an emphasis on clarifying topics that were heavily and sometimes partially misrepresented in online discussions or other media. This was followed by a discussion and then a working part in groups over the topics.

The invitations were distributed in the form of paper leaflets to mailboxes (in cooperation with the Prague 1, 2 and 3 municipalities) and to other locations through the communication channels of the municipalities, the Institute of Planning and Development (IPR), the Railway Administration (SŽ) and the Transport Company of the capital city. The meeting was primarily intended for local residents and workers in the area and was attended by around two dozen citizens.

The panel discussion introduced and discussed the topics of the project context, the competition dialogue, the process, the evaluation criteria and the approach of the various competition teams; among the specific topics of the winning design were the roof, conservation, transport, the Fant building, the transformation of Vrchlického sady Park and security. The whole event was moderated and facilitated by the Studio for Public Debate.

Participation information: august 2023

Under the name Nový Hlavák, a competitive dialogue was announced in June 2022 for the transformation of the area around the Main Railway Station, which will include Vrchlického Sady, the station's concourse and the construction of a new tram line through the area. The competitive dialogue and the subsequent implementation of the project is a joint activity of the Prague City Hall, the Railway Administration, the Transport Company of the Capital City of Prague, and the City of Prague. Prague and the Institute of Planning and Development of the City of Prague (IPR).

Public participation was key to the announcement of the competitive dialogue. The results of the survey are used by the competing teams, who try to reflect the views of the public on the whole Hlavák area in their proposals. 811 respondents took part in the electronic survey immediately after the announcement of the competitive dialogue. More people got involved during guided walks through the area and public meetings.

The voice of the residents around the main station, passengers and other users of the area was thus an inspiration for the design of New Hlavák, which we will present to you at the end of November. Thanks to this, the proposal can answer what the public misses in the current Vrchlický Sady or in the new apron, and what could be changed in their appearance.

When meeting with local residents, the new connection to Žižkov was perceived very positively on the subject of the apron. Among the current problems that need to be addressed, poor passenger orientation causing chaotic movement in the hall, insufficient number of toilets or crowds of people in front of the departure boards were often mentioned. The public expects the refurbishment to address infopanels and navigation, waiting areas inside and outside the concourse, short-term parking, entrances for supplies, greenery on the roof and the service and catering offer.

According to the participants, Vrchlického sady is primarily a place where people do not spend a lot of time, mainly because of the negative perception of the place, which they consider neglected. At the same time, 83% of the respondents appreciate the green space in the middle of the city, which suggests that Vrchlický sady has the potential to attract more people. To make the park more pleasant, 93% of respondents would like to see more benches and other seating options. 89% of people also want to see an outdoor space for waiting for the train.

A summary of the results of the public participation can be found here: How the public perceives the Main Railway Station - Nový Hlavák (novyhlavak.com)

Already done: June 2022

On Tuesday 14 June and Thursday 16 June, two participation meetings were held, which were open to anyone concerned with the planned revitalisation. The opinions and insights of the citizens who live or have their businesses in the area are very important for the creation of the competition brief - the new development is intended, among other things, to significantly improve and make everyday life in this strained and specific area more pleasant. Therefore, we are interested in every detail that could have a positive impact on the living conditions. On Tuesday, 14 June, we took a guided walk with the participants through the entire area to be affected by the revitalisation. Experts from the contracting organisations presented the planned activities and answered questions from the participants. At the same time, they took careful notes on individual comments and ideas. On Thursday, 16 June, we met again for the workshop, this time in the Historical Building of the National Museum. Over a map of the area, we discussed the various steps and topics of the upcoming revitalization with the participants, and again gathered suggestions. We are pleased that the public clearly welcomes the revitalization plan and does not hesitate to get involved in the process. Thank you! We will keep you informed about further activities and when you will be able to get involved again.