The Gahura s Prospect Revitalization - Front Space of the Cultural and University Centre
GahuraŽs Prospect belongs to one of the most valuable places in the functionalist city of Zlín. The rising park prospect is surrounded by student residences and ends in a glassed-
panelled Tomas Bata Memorial built in 1933. The part in question is located at the bottom of the prospect and is surrounded by Market Hall and Department Store on the western side and Congress Centre and Tomas Bata University Rectorate (built 2008-2010) on the eastern side. The design of GahuraŽs Prospect revitalisation results from an open architectural competition organized by the city of Zlín.
The main idea of the design is to pass and not to interrupt. To pass relates to people, who use this grassy prospect as a shortcut; not to interrupt to react on the concept of a strip of green designed by F. L. Gahura and thus relate the project both to a human and urbanistic scale. The idea was fulfilled by pavements embedded under the terrain level and by shaping the grassy surface. The place thus seems green and compact to a distant viewer. Moreover, pedestrians are protected from a busy crossroad thanks to this newly created terrain. People can sit comfortably on kerbs or right on the lawn.
The pavements are made of cast concrete and the concrete walls have a glass reinforced concrete facing. The area was designed to enable people to experience atmosphere of the place, to stop for a moment and enjoy a short rest, and to reach various destinations in the city at the same time. The place is also equipped with city Wi-Fi and in the upper part there are drinking fountains for pedestrians and their dog companions. The design includes an artwork. The curator Lucie mardová chose the conceptual artist Ji?í Valoch. The artwork created for GahuraŽs Prospect represents a sequel to his poetic text works showed in different galleries. The work consists of a short text message completely different words each time which is repeated six times throughout the place. The sentence relates to pedestrians and is open to various interpretations.