The intention, of course, is not to motivate people to spend their free time in the underpass, but to contribute to a change in the perception of the place.

Deadline: 04.04.2025.

The underpass passes under the Square of the Slovak National Uprising which is mainly formed by a large intersection. The underpass represents the only pedestrian space on the square. Although it is located in a central location and fronting a major landmark, the Elizabeth Hotel, the space lacks an identity or even a name. It is used not only by locals but also by many visitors to the city, and the underpass is an imaginary gateway to the historical center, particularly to the main square.

Intent of the competition
Within the framework of the European Capital of Culture Trenčín 2026 project, the Creative Institute Trenčín announces an art-architectural competition. The aim of the competition is to show the potential of the underpass, to improve its overall impression for pedestrians, and at the same time to use this specific public space for the presentation of the activities of Trenčín 2026. It is an important goal of the Trenčín 2026 project to enrich the public space with quality art in various forms. The competition is held within the framework of the flagship project of the Trenčín 2026, called City Reimagined, which is devoted to regeneration of the public space.

Objective of the competition
The aim of the competition is to define vision and strategy for the underpass and to transform the underground part of the underpass into a safe, pleasant, illuminated and accessible public space with elements of art and design. The intention, of course, is not to motivate people to spend their free time in the underpass, but to contribute to a change in the perception of the place. Many transit pedestrians and cyclists perceive the underpass as a dark, uninteresting underground space, and their goal is to leave the place as quickly as possible. In addition to enhancing the space, the design should encourage pedestrians and cyclists to slow down or stop briefly, for example through eye-catching light, visual, sound, spatial or other art installations that create a memorable experience.

The overall expression of the space will refer to the Trenčín 2026 project and its main motto: Awakening Curiosity. The message and presentation of the Trenčín 2026 project can be achieved through the incorporation of communication messages and presentation boards within the new design of the underground part of the underpass.

Broader context
The underpass near the Elizabeth Hotel is located on the Slovak National Uprising Square in Trenčín and is a busy pedestrian route from the main bus and railway station to the city centre. Thus, apart from the residents, all visitors to the city who arrive by public transport pass through this underpass. Therefore, a significant part of Slovak and foreign visitors who will come to Trenčín in 2026 as part of the European Capital of Culture Trenčín 2026 programme will also be in contact with the underpass. The underpass itself was built in the 1980s, as part of increasing the capacity of the state road I/61 Bratislava–Žilina through the centre of Trenčín, when most of the then level crossings were replaced by underpasses. On the one hand, this move helped to ensure sufficient capacity of the road network for the next decades, on the other hand it had a significant negative impact on the form of public spaces around the city centre.

The Slovak National Uprising Square, dominated by the Art Nouveau building of the Elizabeth Hotel from 1901, has lost the character of a square and most of its area has been taken up by one of the two most important traffic crossroads in the city. This was the result of a long-term development, when most of the traffic passing through Trenčín had been concentrated in the narrow neck between the castle cliff and the river Váh, i.e. in the place where the underpass of the Elizabeth Hotel is located nowadays. In the past, river Váh washed the castle cliff and also flowed in the place of today’s Slovak National Uprising Square. The space for pedestrians was designed during the reconstructions in the second half of the 20th century (except for a couple of smaller corners near the building of the Karol Pádivý Primary Art School and the building of the Elizabeth Hotel) almost exclusively using the underpass, the modification of which is the subject of this competition. Modernist traffic planning left the valuable public spaces on the surface to cars and the new traffic design in the centre of Trenčín is still only in the preparatory phase, with implementation to take place in a few years at the earliest.

Historical links
On the rock under the Castle of Trenčín, located only a few mmetres from the exit to the Palackého street, there is an important historical element—the Roman inscription. The Roman inscription is covered by the hotel building and is visible from its interior. The inscription mentions Laugaricio, which refers to an ancient settlement on the territory of today’s Trenčín. It proclaims the victory of the Second Roman Legion over the Germans during the Marcomannic Wars in the year 179 AD.  It is the most important Roman inscription in Central Europe north of the Danube. 

Summary of design requirements
The general requirement for the design is the implementation of permanent artistic-architectural intervention in the interior of the underpass (in its underground part), which will attract attention, maintain or even improve the illumination of the underpass, enhancing the feeling of safety. At the same time, the design should refer to the Trenčín 2026  and its main motto - Awakening Curiosity.

The design of the new interior of the underpass includes the creation of two new (LCD / OLED) 65’’ vertical oriented digital pannels for the presentation of city events and activities of the Trenčín 2026 programme. The presentation on these digital pannels will take the form of static graphics or dynamic videos with no sound. The location of pannels in the underpass is not given. The main objective is to provide up-to-date information on ongoing cultural events. The presentation will also include a map of the city on which information for visitors will be marked (e.g. event venues, infopoints, artistic interventions and new infrastructure objects). The artistic intervention can incorporate elements such as light, sound or space, while maintaining sufficient clear width to ensure that the movement of pedestrians, including parents with prams or people in wheelchairs, is not restricted. It is required that the intervention is contemporary and intermedial.

The intervention can also be interactive and make use of the constant movement of pedestrians. At the same time, it should be linked to the digital panels, thus forming a harmonious and compact whole.

The concept of the intervention can also work with different other formats such as short-term activities or participatory activities. An equally important requirement is the reflection of the immediate vicinity of a significant historical monument—the Roman inscription on the castle rock. Access to this monument is through the reception of the Elizabeth Hotel, which is why many tourists are unable to find it. The design of the underpass should not only draw attention to the existence of the Roman inscription but also guide tourists towards this important monument (however, the design does not have to thematise the historical monument).

Prize Money for Awarded Proposals
3 000 € – 1. place
2 400 € – 2. place
1 800 € – 3. place

Other info here.