TRANSFORMING THE BROWNFIELD BUBNY

Transforming the brownfield of the former railway yard into a versatile, modern district with multiple functions in mind.

I. GENESIS

The Bubny project in Prague is a significant urban development initiative focused on revitalizing a former railway yard area into a multifunctional district. This project aims to address various environmental and infrastructural challenges while leveraging the site’s potential for urban renewal. The Bubny site, historically a railway brownfield, has long remained underutilized, presenting environmental challenges due to its abandoned status. The area has lacked proper development and faced neglect, leading to environmental degradation and wasted potential for urban expansion. The site’s abandoned state has likely resulted in soil contamination and contributed to environmental degradation over time, necessitating remediation efforts to ensure the area is safe for future use and minimizing any adverse environmental impact. The lack of appropriate infrastructure, such as transportation links and utilities, has hindered the area’s development potential, causing insufficient connectivity and outdated infrastructure to be obstacles to integrating the site into the city’s fabric effectively.

Bubny’s redevelopment selection is likely due to its strategic location within Prague. It presents an excellent opportunity for urban expansion close to the city centre and addresses the increasing demands for residential, commercial, and recreational spaces. The project’s selection aligns with the city’s vision for urban regeneration and sustainable development, promising a vibrant, mixed-use district that enhances residents’ quality of life while promoting economic growth. Its potential positive impact on the surrounding community regarding job creation, improved infrastructure, and enhanced living standards might have factored into its selection. The Bubny project, through its focus on environmental remediation, infrastructure enhancement, and potential to create a dynamic urban district, embodies a strategic endeavour aligning urban development with sustainability goals.

II. TRIGGERS

Pre-Development Triggers contain:

The area was characterized by fragmented urban spaces, divided by linear barriers like railways and expressways. This division hindered connectivity and integration between neighbourhoods.

Critical infrastructure issues stemmed from transport barriers, including the north-south expressway and the high traffic volume on streets like Argentinská, which created congestion and inhibited cohesive urban development.

The socio-economic fabric was affected by the physical separation caused by these barriers, leading to disjointed urban textures and hindering the cohesive growth of neighbourhoods.

Environmental challenges hindered the area’s development, including waste management issues potentially arising from disused brownfields and industrial remnants.

Triggers Leading to Project Development include:

The pressing need for urban revitalization and integrated development strategies spurred the initiative to overcome spatial and infrastructural barriers.

A city-wide strategy was developed to create main urban focal points, aiming to redefine neighbourhoods’ identities through public investments and connectivity initiatives.

The proposal for infrastructure reconfiguration, including the potential tunnelling of the expressway and creating a central park, emerged as solutions to mitigate transport barriers and reconnect fragmented urban spaces.

The project aimed to reintegrate communities by proposing measures to improve urban connectivity, create public spaces, and redefine the identities of these neighbourhoods.

III. TRANSFORMATIONAL CONTEXT

The challenges facing Bubny are being met with proactive solutions that align with the area’s redevelopment goals.

Spatial Fragmentation is addressed through integrated urban planning strategies focusing on enhancing connectivity between fragmented spaces. Proposed measures include pedestrian-friendly streetscapes and efficient transport networks to bridge divided neighbourhoods.

Strategies for Bubny development involve reconfiguring critical infrastructure, such as potentially tunnelling expressways and optimizing public transport systems, such as new tram stops and routes, including river transport with several stops on the district’s waterfront. Emphasis is placed on reducing traffic congestion while promoting seamless mobility.

The entire area is already very well connected by public transport. There are metro stations in the north and south, the area is served by a tram, and there are two railway stations. The design further develops these strengths and makes transitions from one mode of transport to another significantly more pleasant. The entire area will also be much more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists. The proposed transport solution was also verified using transport models. As for the connection to public transport, it is probably the best-situated brownfield in the entire capital city of Prague.

Efforts to reduce Urban Disconnect are directed at fostering community integration by creating public spaces, redesigning neighbourhood identities, and mitigating the socioeconomic impact of physical barriers.

The redevelopment project aims to tackle environmental issues by implementing sustainable waste management solutions for disused brownfields and industrial remnants.

The current challenges are being tackled through a multi-faceted approach encompassing urban revitalization, infrastructural reconfiguration, and community-centric initiatives. This Plan strives to overcome spatial and infrastructural barriers to create a cohesive and connected urban environment. Also, the Plan includes community Integration Measures and prioritizing initiatives to enhance connectivity, foster communal spaces, and redefine neighbourhood identities to bridge socio-economic disparities and promote inclusive growth.

Looking ahead, Bubny strategy involves bolstering the area against potential future challenges. District development plans encompass sustainable growth strategies, ensuring alignment with development goals and eco-friendly practices. Resilience measures are being integrated to address disaster-related challenges and climate impacts, fortifying the area against unforeseen crises. Continued community engagement remains a priority, fostering ongoing involvement in decision-making processes to adapt effectively to evolving challenges. This holistic approach combines immediate solutions with forward-thinking strategies to address existing issues and fortify the area for potential future hurdles.

IV. ACTION JOURNEY

The transformation of the brownfield between Letná and Holešovice is a substantial project requiring comprehensive urban planning interventions. It aims to bridge the gap between these areas, create cohesive urban spaces, and redefine the relationship between different districts within the city.

A fundamental part of this transformation involves reorganizing the transportation infrastructure. By redesigning roads and railway stations, addressing the traffic flow, and repurposing railway areas, the project intends to create valuable spaces that cater to the city’s needs while mitigating the negative impact of transportation on urban life.

Moreover, the plan emphasizes the significance of creating resilient urban spaces integrating disaster preparedness, sustainable use of natural resources, and climate considerations. This entails innovative approaches leveraging digital technology where applicable to address mobility challenges, spatial transformations, and gender-related aspects in urban development.

Specifically, for Bubny, the plan aims to eliminate the former train station’s isolated nature by integrating it into the urban fabric. Strategies include extending block structures to the railway, limiting transit traffic within the district, and leveraging the area’s strategic location for community-centric development. The proposed construction near the Hlávkův Bridge, coupled with proper traffic realignment, intends to create a secondary centre for the neighbourhood. The envisaged changes around Bubny Station, such as the proposed tram route alignment, aim to integrate it seamlessly into the city’s fabric.

For Holešovice, the transformation revolves around providing clear spatial endpoints toward transportation routes. The development focuses on creating a distinct urban character, ensuring that the former railway station area becomes an integral part of Holešovice. Emphasizing well-defined public spaces and a structured urban layout, the plan aims to redefine the district’s identity while ensuring connectivity and accessibility for residents.

Environmental governance initiatives have mainly established task forces for continuous environmental monitoring and community engagement to ensure compliance with sustainability standards. Efforts under the environment and infrastructure category revolve around sustainable resource management. Policies have been enforced to promote rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling, green infrastructure integration, and using solar panels on rooftops and gardening on balconies. Climate-adaptive designs, incorporating green spaces and renewable energy sources, aim to mitigate environmental impacts. GIS-based planning tools have optimized spatial arrangements for efficiency and sustainability.

One of the important projects that will contribute to the sustainable concept of the district is the plan to use residual heat from the wastewater treatment plant to heat and cool the entire district. The project is still in the stage of technical examination, but the masterplan is prepared in such a way that it is possible to use this unique source of energy situated nearby.

The project seeks to create cohesive, vibrant, and sustainable urban spaces by fundamentally reimagining transportation, infrastructure, and spatial design, all while prioritizing community well-being and environmental resilience.

V. FUTURE

In considering the future of the Bubny project in Prague, several anticipatory measures and developmental pathways are envisaged to enhance the area’s vibrancy and sustainability further.

The focus remains on nurturing a dynamic urban landscape that integrates seamlessly with the city’s infrastructure and socio-cultural fabric. This future vision emphasizes ongoing mixed-use urban development, aiming to optimize space efficiency and diversity within the area. Striving for an even more interconnected neighbourhood, the project seeks to expand the network of pedestrian pathways, enhance bicycle infrastructure, and advance public transportation access.

Environmental sustainability remains at the core, with a continued emphasis on nurturing green spaces and enhancing ecosystem services. The future development envisages the further integration of rainwater management systems, the expansion of green zones, and the inclusion of advanced technology for waste management and renewable energy generation.

The forthcoming phases of the Bubny project are committed to fostering a cohesive and inclusive community. This involves facilitating social integration, promoting cultural exchange, and advancing public spaces to cater to diverse social activities and interactions.

Furthermore, the future of this project entails ongoing collaboration with local stakeholders, authorities, and urban planners to ensure that the development aligns with the city’s long-term strategic plans. One of the key tools for this collaboration is a second — more detailed — masterplan for the whole area, which is now a work in progress. The aim is to create an environment that harmonizes modern living standards with the preservation of heritage, promoting a sustainable, resilient, and livable urban ecosystem for the future inhabitants of Prague.

ANNEX I: ADDITIONAL LINKS

ANNEX II. STAKEHOLDERS

City of Prague: Municipality officials, urban planning departments, and regulatory bodies.
Real Estate Developers: Companies or organizations investing in the redevelopment and construction of the area.
Residents: Those living in the vicinity whose lives could be impacted by the redevelopment.
Community Groups: Organizations representing local interests and advocating for community involvement in the project.
Environmental Organizations: Groups concerned with sustainable development, conservation, and the remediation of contaminated sites.
Transportation Departments: Responsible for ensuring adequate transport links and infrastructure development.
Utility Companies: Involved in providing essential services like water, electricity, and sewage systems.
Local Businesses: Those operating in or around the area earmarked for redevelopment.