The Vybíralka project began with the firm’s decision to focus on Prague’s housing estates as an urban typology with specific characteristics, and the city’s commitment to improving the living environment on the outskirts. The Vybíralova courtyard in Černý Most was selected for the pilot project as a cohesive development exhibiting the typical characteristics of a housing estate, with the potential of a local community that had already been partially revitalized and the emerging local cultural center Plechárna. The goal of the project was to draw on practical experience to identify the real-world challenges facing the housing estate, determine what public spaces should look like within the estate, and explore what these spaces can offer its residents.

The output of the pilot project is the Revitalization plan—a conceptual study resulting from an extensive planning process that involved local residents, representatives of the city district, and other local stakeholders. Participatory planning in Vybíralka began with celebrations marking the housing estate’s 25th anniversary. In collaboration with the city district and Plechárna, several successful cultural events were held, which helped strengthen the core of the local community and bring about a general shift in how the place is perceived. The plan consists of an overall concept for the target area, which outlines a set of specific measures to serve as a basis for follow-up projects—such as the reconstruction of the street network, the creation of a unified Design manual for the Vybíralky area, the revitalization of the elementary school’s front yard, and the establishment of a custodian position for the recreational playgrounds on the school grounds.

The proposal contained in the revitalization plan aims to realize the potential of “living in green spaces,” thereby improving the overall image of living in the housing estate and enabling long-term, gradual, yet coordinated development. It seeks to increase the clarity and optimize the maintenance of the space by accentuating the diverse character of the housing estate’s environment, expanding opportunities for outdoor recreation through facilities for various resident groups, and setting standards in terms of materials and amenities; among other things, it applies the principles of sustainable rainwater management. The Vybíralka project serves as a model example of an approach to the planning and revitalization of Prague’s housing estates in general. The most important insights and experiences are being applied in other city projects.

The proposal for the renovation of public spaces seeks to address the needs of everyday life in the housing estate. It creates new places for residents of different age groups to gather. A prerequisite for building a sense of connection to a place is that people have a place to meet informally.