The site is attractive by its position on the green axis of the Haná region metropolis at the place where the wide belt of parks transforms to recreation and sports part of the town which is accentuated by the cycling path. The site is complex by its fragmented character and the scale of the surrounding architecture but has its charm due to unconstrained loose development.
concept
The urban concept refers to the very green river of Smetana Park. Its main ambition is to drag a generous bay of greenery deep into the lot and name it as a park with fragile pavilions of hotel suites. The design is loosely inspired by the architecture of park footbridges of the local Flora Olomouc exhibition grounds. Elevating the spectator slightly above the level of a generous lawn into the tree tops is an extraordinary and unique experience.
composition and typology
Architectural composition utilises two contrasting elements – the earth green slope delimiting the enclosed valley and the fragile wings (emphasizing
its technical character) which seem to be loosely scattered above this valley.
The green rampart is in fact the service and social part of the hotel; it opens in the direction to Wellner Street not only by the wide green valley but also with the roofed carriage-drive to the lobby. The lobby is followed by the reception which serves not only for the lobby but also for the drive way in the north part of the plot. From the lobby there is a passage to the restaurant and the conference centre with the possibility of establishing an exhibition area at the
reception level.
Two glazed lodging wings are laid as bridges above the green valley. These are two-floor two-bay structures. The traffic corridor leads to the hotel lobby through staircases at one end and at the other it leads to the service and escape exit. Parking is designed at the street level in the form of a ring covered by green slopes. The operational arrangement aims at nonviolent detachment of the guest and visitor part. Both ways of utilisation should complement each other so that the site becomes the
natural and attractive part of the streetscape and guests acquire the feeling of contact with the authentic life of the city.