NEGRELLI VIADUCT - "CITY ON THE RAIL”

This project looks for solutions to how a city's transport infrastructure construction (specifically the Negrelli Viaduct in Prague) can become the core of a new city district or a secondary layer of a new public space. Integrating life into unused structures can bring about new development potential for residential and leisure space.

The axis of the viaduct runs from the Masaryk railway station towards the Bubny station. Assuming regular departures and arrivals in normal rail service, it is possible to add city public transport lines as well. Prague's public transport would be able to stop at two stations along the viaduct. A train carriage could travel once per hour in both directions during rush hour and could travel at intervals of two to four times per hour at off-peak times as a part of regular public transport in Prague. This would create new public transport stops. Located above, under and next to the viaduct is a pavilion complex with public services making use of the railway. Part of the pavilion complex also consists of lifting and assembly devices. Similarly, as there is traffic on the railroad line, the pavilion complex units are able to respond to the movement of this traffic and are themselves capable of moving. There is also the architecture of shipping containers for buildings with a temporary function or for buildings with a function that needs to respond more effectively to the market. The red colour of the concept is only for illustration. Affordable local materials, easily transportable by rail, would be used. \nAll the additions to the Negrelli Viaduct have their own separate foundations, and the sites are mainly reinforced concrete or assembled from shipping containers. The public transport stops are made from steel. The building materials used are traditional, and the supporting structure and trusses are designed for hanging exhibits. The exhibits would be illuminated in several ways: artificial light, daylight diffused through skylights, daylight through windows or a combination of the two. Diffuse light (adjustable), complemented by a spot lighting system, is designed for each space. The premises contain technologies for the monitoring and correction of temperature and humidity, and each pavilion has its own engine room. Each object is a machine for its given function. Objects could contain interactive functions with programmable robotics.