圣努贝斯丨捷克丨Josef Rozehnal（NAHAKU）和 Jiří Vala

Saint Nubes

Architecture competition

Brno, Czechia, 2021

in collaboration with:

designer Josef Rozehnal (NAHAKU) and architect Jiří Vala

Annotation

Dominican Square is characterised by its pronounced slope creating an almost amphitheatrical atmosphere. Three important visual and pedestrian axes run through the centre of the square. The character of the square is strongly symmetrical and its surrounding buildings define a precisely delimited utilitarian space. Our proposed water feature is a well-defined circle in plan. However, this circle responds in space to the terrain of the square and touches it at three points. This creates 3 silver gates floating above the square.

The silver curve is set on a heavy granite base from which the spring of urban life springs at the top. The flowing river, so rare in arid summer Brno, beckons the traveller to wet his feet. The metal curve itself is a source of water in various forms. The gates on the axes alternately open and close with columns of falling water. They thus define an inner space from which one can view the square through a wall of water, shrouded in refracted light. In the hot summer, the whole curve can be shrouded in a veil of mist. At the same time, thanks to the surface tension of the water, it is able to wrap itself in flowing water, cooling the space around it. The curve itself becomes almost invisible with its mirror-like surface.

Thank you!