Bastion at Strahov, Prague

My object of exploreation in my diploma theses is left over part of baroque fortification in Prague. Interventions in the fortification create a path on and through the fortification and thereby make it of public space.

On the terraces of fortification are seven tennis courts scattered around the baroque bastion. \nOver time while I empathise with the location, finding its qualities and potentials, the subject of my research did not become an outdoor sports venue or sports building on the fortification, but the fortification itself. I have no reason to change current usage for sport venues, I rather enhance it! I think about the potential and the connection between the terraces. I wonder how to connect them and how to make them open for the public.\nI reduce my site to the perimeter outlined by the wall.\nMy first recognition is the greenery growing up from the walls. The wall is literally overflowing with greenery. The trees grow on the wall and in its immediate vicinity. It must be preserved!\nI do not propose a sports venue, but a TRAVEL ON THE BASTION along sport venue.\nI treat the wall, which was built by a human hands, as a natural material, as a mineral, as a piece of rock. The construction of the fortification wall is aways one meter at its top and the wall widen downwards from the outside under angle of 13 degrees. Inside is filled with surrounding rubble, dust and stones. \nAnd so I CUT and DIG! …I cut through a passages and a staircases to the higher and higher terrace of the bastion. I CLEAN FROM THE SURPLUS! …I clean the wall from sheds and deposits. …. this creates a path and connection. New created path is a series of holes, passages, gates, staircases.\nAll the intervention has common aim to connect the terraces and create a promenade…\nBefore the walls were torn down in 1876, they served more than a defence purposes to private recreation. The walls were a promenade. Residents can look down on their city and enjoy its beauty.\nThe biggest asset of my project is to allow Prague Residents to experience the promenade and to look at their city as they could before the demolition of the baroque fortification.\nI try to treat the wall gently, preserve as many trees as possible and preserve the fortifications its monumentality. Therefore I try to do as less holes in brick walls as possible and rather dig in added soil between the walls or reuse forgotten openings