Competition for the Visual Identity of Viadukt Karlín

The project, lasting over ten years, consists of a series of activities and small projects that will culminate in the final utilization of the space under the arches of the reconstructed viaduct in the following year.

A NEW VISUAL IDENTITY WILL BRING VIADUKT KARLÍN TO LIFE,
DECIDED BY AN OPEN COMPETITION

The design competition announced by the municipal real estate management company TRADE CENTRE PRAHA (TCP) ultimately attracted a total of 78 entries from graphic designers who attempted to capture the project with their ideas and creativity, which in the coming years will cultivate the public space under the arches of the Negrelli Viaduct and, following the example of European metropolises, build a new socio-cultural center within them. The winning design impressed the commission with its inventiveness and comprehensive utilization.

From New York to Brno, entries for the competition came to the capital city from all over the republic and the world. Artists tried to contribute their skills to the future use of the public space in the center of Prague, and nearly a hundred quality entries were proof of this. "I am pleased that TCP managed to attract such a high number of interested parties to the competition for the visual identity of Viadukt Karlín with relatively low costs and gave opportunities to emerging designers," says Adam Zábranský, councilor for property, transparency, and legislation.

"I believe that the new logo will successfully guide Viadukt Karlín through the pilot operation of arch 036 and will also serve for clear and understandable communication with the public and potential tenants of the remaining viaduct arches," adds Zábranský. The plan is to enclose several dozen remaining arches in the coming years, which will find many creative and commercial uses and offer Prague residents a new space for culture, entertainment, and relaxation.

The evaluation committee, composed of independent experts and representatives of the City of Prague, TCP, the MOBA architectural studio, and Creative Prague, after careful consideration of each entry, unanimously agreed on the winning one, created by thirty-year-old Jan Slabihoudek from Jablonec nad Nisou. The selected design impressed the commission with its development, broad flexibility of use, and appropriately chosen form of graphic designation of the arch space itself. Two other entries were also unanimously awarded, with Anna Divišová's portfolio taking second place and Vojtěch Liebl's design receiving the symbolic bronze medal.

The author of the winning visual based the design on a typographic foundation, where the building stones of the arch are replaced by letterforms arranged in geometric shapes used to create the characteristic vault of the viaduct. "I was intrigued by the idea of new utilization of a historically significant space, and with that in mind, I tried to create a comprehensive identity that would effectively support these activities for a wide spectrum of people from a visual perspective," reveals Slabihoudek.

"I am very glad that such a large number of enthusiastic designers participated in the competition, and I am happy that the project appealed to them. As a thank you, we are preparing an exhibition of all entries in our community cellar 17 on the Prague embankment, and we want to offer the public the opportunity to see all the creative ideas with their own eyes and in one place. We believe that interested parties will find their way to it, and we look forward to their visit," states Marta Pražáková, a member of the board of directors of TRADE CENTRE PRAHA.

And when will the winning design be visible directly in the viaduct? Construction work on the pilot arch is currently being completed, followed by interior installation and the subsequent launch of its trial operation. This will serve to determine the necessary technical and economic parameters for the year-round use of the unique space under the oldest railway bridge in the capital city, and during this period, TCP will operate it as an information center, a meeting place, and it will also host various cultural events.