The Open Gardens Education Centre

Transformation of an unused space of an office building and old apartment building with adjacent gardens at the foot of the Špilberk Hill grounds into a community open space. (The origin of the place dates back to the 19th century, the space served as a so-called burgher garden with fruit orchards .)
The goal of the entire facility is to operate in a carbon neutral way, using renewable energy sources, reducing the consumption of energy, water and other resources, educating about this way of operating and about sustainability

o Renovation of a neglected building surrounded by an unmaintained garden adjacent to the park of Brno's Špilberk Castle.
o Creating a community space for people to meet in different areas from business events to religious meetings to casual leisure time with children.
o By combining technologies, the complex is trying to combat the rising temperatures in the city, the so-called urban heat island effect.
o The construction of a passive standard education centre with a green roof.

o Combining various technologies, using renewable sources of energy and lowering the consumption of energy, water and other sources
▪ Zero carbon area.
▪ Eco-friendly renovation of a city administration building.
▪ Using rainwater.
▪ Measuring data (e.g. weather station)
o Garden landscaping and creating community garden

o The open garden principle works at the community level. It is a community center and it is open for all citizens. They can enjoy thematic courses, programs for schools, but also their own corporate event, conference, wedding or celebration

o They strive for environmentally friendly operations throughout the Open Garden. Electricity is generated in a small photovoltaic power plant with a capacity of 19,725 kilowatts.
o Rainwater retention thanks to three green roofs, the accumulation and use of rainwater from other roofs for watering and flushing.
o The outdoor space with green and blue elements, educational objects, a relaxation zone, community garden, etc. invites many experiences, including school excursions and corporate events.

o From an urban planning point of view, the biggest problem was the narrow shape of the land on the slope, which did not allow to place the centre's programme in the built-up part of the yard. The winning design dealt with this by breaking the building line, plunging the building into the slope and compensating by building a green roof, which today you can walk directly from Špilberk Hill to the educational centre building.
o At first, the Department of Historic Preservation did not want to allow the installation of photovoltaics on the roof of one of the buildings because the building is located in the protection zone of a national cultural monument. Eventually, through negotiations with the National Monuments Office, the installation was allowed.
o Building a modern open space in the centre of Brno in an area that had long been neglected, where homeless people congregated and which locals avoided.

o Using brownfields in city centers to create community space.
o Offer space for both commercial, education and non-profit purposes.