The revitalization project for the courtyard along Sámova Street is breathing new life into the space—a new network of paths will be created, and the central area will be put to good use. The courtyard will be equipped with high-quality outdoor furniture, including play and exercise elements. The site will also be enriched by community gardens and outdoor seating areas. An unconventional connection to the watercourse will further enhance the design while preserving the site’s unique atmosphere.

Current State

The current situation at the site is defined by a pair of main roads that flank an undefined, unused space in the middle. The first road is the main thoroughfare along the Botič stream. This relatively narrow road is situated on an earthen embankment that completely separates the inner courtyard from the stream bed. Today, this purely transit-oriented route offers no incentive to stop or linger in any direction. The steep slope, covered in dense greenery, provides no connection to the stream, and on the opposite side, the inadequate road network and complete lack of street furniture condemn the inner courtyard to being hurriedly passed by.

The second main route is a sidewalk running right next to the apartment buildings; located on private property, its excessive proximity to the buildings again discourages anyone other than residents from entering. Two separate worlds with a border zone—a no-man’s-land in the middle—where only dogs on walks dare to venture. Although this is a courtyard in the immediate vicinity of the Botič Creek, toward which even its open section faces, there is no connection between them, and establishing one would likely be quite problematic given the main thoroughfare on the embankment. Furthermore, due to heavy channel regulation and a private property on the opposite side, this section of the stream lacks visual appeal, and any potential access to the water’s edge is rendered pointless by the significant elevation difference of the stream’s banks.

Proposal

The goal of the proposal is to connect both worlds—residents and passersby—by facilitating encounters in the middle, rediscovering the purpose of the central courtyard area, and raising awareness of the stream’s proximity in whatever form it takes. The main idea is to create a new backbone pathway—a “middle ground”—that winds through the center of the courtyard like a dry branch of the Botič Creek. This pathway is connected to wooden decks—piers—built on the alluvial deposits. These are partly open recreational areas for versatile use, partly areas with outdoor furniture, community gardens for apartment buildings, or a spacious central staircase that utilizes the existing slope of the terrain to create a viewing area while also facilitating further connections between the transit route and the courtyard.

The new path widens slightly at three points to create local focal points within the space. The concept of a dry riverbed is further evoked by “puddles” in the widened sections—water features that promote a healthy microclimate in the courtyard and provide year-round access to water. The entire concept is suddenly brought into focus as one passes through, thanks to the installation of two sound channels at key points, which bring the authentic sound of the flowing Botič Creek into the courtyard. The design will be complemented by informal play elements and a petanque court under the chestnut trees.