RaumScape reimagines the Miloš Forman Square as a living urban landscape in the heart of Prague’s historic center. The design transforms the square into a layered public space where movement, heritage, nature, and culture are woven into a coherent whole. The winning design responds to the complex and listed urban heritage as well as to the competition framework. The result is an urban design that appears both fluid and integrated with a variety of spatial experiences.
The client's vision is based on the unique Raumplan concept introduced by the Prague native, Adolf Loos. Loos introduced a new way of working with space, that goes beyond the traditional concept of floors and rooms to seek less formal spatial flows. Pairing the principles of a fluid experience with a landscape-based approach, the RaumScape design is organized as a five-layered ground-scape: a continuous and fully accessible urban surface prioritizing pedestrians and everyday mobility; a mosaic-inspired paving that builds on Prague’s rich tradition of public space craftsmanship; an urban canopy of trees that provides shade, climate mitigation, and seasonal variation; an open city stage for daily life and cultural events; and a low, circular pavilion that activates the square’s edge and supports public life.
Rooted in the city’s UNESCO-listed heritage, the proposal carefully preserves and reinterprets existing paving patterns, extending the character of the surrounding streets into the square. Light-toned surfaces improve comfort by reducing heat, while a central water feature introduces reflection, play, and cooling, transforming the square across seasons—from water mirror in summer to potential ice rink in winter. The new layout merges the plaza with the important green axis to create a better experience of the Letna Park on the opposite bank of the river. The design thus strengthens both mental and physical connections and add to the character of the listed area, Prague 1.
Urban nature plays a key role. A canopy of climate-resilient trees creates a defined yet permeable edge, framing the square while maintaining openness and flexibility at its center. Integrated planting beds and seating support rest, play, and informal gathering, enhancing biodiversity and sensory experience within a dense urban context.
At the heart of the square, an open and flexible stage pays tribute to filmmaker Miloš Forman, embracing both everyday use and larger cultural events such as markets, performances, and open-air activities. Art is conceived not as isolated objects but as an integrated layer within paving, furniture, lighting, and landscape elements, contributing to a shared identity between the square and its surroundings.Emerging seamlessly from the ground, the pavilion forms part of the public surface itself. With a transparent façade and an accessible roof, it functions as a café, gallery, and meeting place, offering new perspectives of the city while reinforcing the square as an inclusive, climate-conscious, and vibrant public space.
