Ponávka Riverfront Revitalization
Brno

Ponávka Riverfront Revitalization: From Královo Pole to Řečkovice

The project transforms the neglected Ponávka River into a valuable urban space where the river serves as a soft boundary between the city and nature. The backbone of the design is a linear park connecting four levels of public spaces, whose character gradually evolves from south to north, adapting to its immediate surroundings.

A key pillar of the design is a sensitive but generous water management and landscape solution. The landscape structure responds to the hydrological regime through a four-tier maintenance system: ranging from intensively maintained lawns to wetlands with minimal human intervention. This approach enhances the area’s biodiversity and creates conditions for species dependent on water ecosystems. The secondary channel of the Ponávka River, flowing through the reservoir, will be restored with natural meanders, blind channels, and periodically flooded ponds.

A fundamental change involves transforming the Řečkovice retention basin from a purely technical flood control structure into a rich urban ecosystem. The basin integrates three key elements: effective flood protection, natural processes, and recreation for Brno residents. Its shores will become spaces for relaxation, while the internal structure ensures the retention of flood capacity.

The project aims to create a cohesive landscape that serves both people and nature. The retention basin will become the heart of Brno’s nature-recreation network, providing the city with a unique space for relaxation while delivering lasting benefits for biodiversity.