A Town between Two Giants

In 1899 Veltrusy was raised to the status of a township and in 1926 to a town. However, a municipality cannot become a town by official decision alone, but in equal part through the development of its structure, its image and, especially, the self-consciousness of its inhabitants. Veltrusy is a relatively young town and thus only some of its components (buildings, open spaces) have a urban nature, while others decisively do not. Precisely as there is nothing clear and certain in Veltrusy, there is nothing clear and certain about the positions of the two major land-holders registered on its territory. These two giants - the factory and the castle and its park - have their own plans, ambitions, financial resources, and their own demands and needs. In all of their proceedings they are, or at least feel themselves to be, independent of the town. However, the town naturally has a right, and indeed an obligation, to know all of these proceedings and must have the chance to express its opinion of them. In fact, this situation is a perfect example of the clash between national and local government bodies.

A Gem at the Edge of the Park

Most of the major assets of the town (especially its historical ones) are more or less related to or approaching the road (street) clinging the southern edge of the park. Veltrusy's one central square, náměstí Antonína Dvořáka, also adjoins to this street. However, its structure is from the most part fragmented. Moreover, the lively commercial centre of Veltrusy has been shifted to ul. Palackého, on the main access route to Prague, likewise the site of the municipality hall, the Sokol sports hall and a number of shops. The strong attraction of the castle and the park is made evident not only in the relation of most of the municipal activities to its edge, but through the radial convergence of most of the main communication roads towards the edge of the park. As a result, our proposed principle is that of the line centre whose axis would be interlinked with most of the municipal buildings and open spaces. We have hung a necklace at the edge of the park to make it apparent that the town of Veltrusy is not only what lies at the foot of the manor house, but that it has its own values- that it has its own distinctive structure.

This principle will enable a linearly radial development whose various development sites will gradually create their own open public spaces with important buildings along the main axis of the centre. The built-up area, especially for residential construction, will gradually move further away from the factory, behind the edge of the park, towards Všestudy.

Cover Sheets of the Issues

We have examined all of the currently most delicate issues and indicated the perspective changes of the town in such a way that none of the present proceedings shall block or complicate the possibilities of further development. In order to provide a systematic overview of the issues, we have decided in favour of using a form in which each of the issues is to be clearly and comprehensibly described, and in which the following particulars are to be included: definition of the priorities, the outline of the most effective solution, proposed financing options and time estimation of the realization. These cover sheets will be very easy to complete (and fill in) and should be used as a helpful aid to the municipal budget preparation and everyday decision-making. The issues are systematically divided into four fundamental areas of the town interests. In the interest of clarity, we have defined only eight problems in each batch.

1. Morphologies and outer entries (♣) This series deals mainly with the preparation of a new zoning plan and other documentation regulating development and relationships towards the nearest neighbours.

2. Strategy a publicity (♦) This series deals with the financial and budget analysis of the town's potential, and the system of financing, including the acquisition of external sources on the basis of the town's promotion.

3. Open spaces (♠) We have divided open spaces into two basic categories. The first one surveys and describes the current state of communications and proposes their modifications, the second one deals with the future prospects.

4. Buildings (♥) The main representatives of this series are primarily the school and the state of the school cafeteria, the old-age home, municipal hall, public library and others.