The new bus stop shelter got a huge attention.

Bus stop Loosova st. at Lesná quarter got a new ass-kicking shelter. It resembles an unrealised, controversial project of a new Czech National Library building for Prague, designed five years ago by world-famous Czech architect Jan Kaplický.

The new National library building was supposed to be the first new important public building built after the fall of communism twenty years ago. Jan Kaplický won the international competition with his radical futurist project in 2006, however the construction was blocked by conservative politicians ruling Prague. Kaplický died three years later, on the very day his daughter was born. (Read The Independent obituary and see some visualizations of the new library.)

The shelter is covered with a special anti-graffiti coating.

The project was not forgotten. The idea of building a bus station shelter resembling the iconic “octopus” shape originates from Pepsi: Refresh Your World campaign and was sponsored by the beverage maker. The new shelter is a second controversial object in the streets of Brno in the last year, after the famous Brno cock clock an Náměstí svobody Sq. Locals are worried that it may face the same fate as the old shelter, which was destroyed by drunkyards, and some Kaplicky’s admirers think that the shape was inspired by the architecture of old Prague and can not “work” as a shelter in rather modernist Brno.

This eye was supposed to look over Prague. Now it is observing a suburb of Brno.

The placement of the station is kind of ironic, as it can be found at Loosova st. Adolf Loos was a Brno-born architect who famously claimed that “an ornament is a crime” and is admired for his simple, functionalist buildings. Also, the original library was supposed to be built at Letná hill in Prague, while in Brno it is located at Lesná quarter.

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The very first incity snowboard park in the Czech republic was opened last week in park “Čertova rokle” in quarter Lesná.

(This is not an image of the actual snowpark at Lesná. Source: Wikimedia Commons)

The facility is accessible daily from 3 pm to 8 pm and there is no entrance fee!

Via: Brno.iDnes.cz

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Approximate location of the snowboard park:

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Lesná on a 1970s postcard by Josef Sekal and Severografia Červený Kostelec

A garden city consisting of blocks of flats? Well, socialist urban-planning had some bright moments and quarter Lesná (district Brno-sever) is a good proof.

The most important part of Lesná was built in the 1960s on the northern corner of Brno. Its name means “forestal”, because the whole quarter is a huge park with tall trees between buildings.

There are about 12 huge blocks of flats, 20+ smaller buildings and many family houses at Lesná. Unique urban plan causes that there is little noise from motor traffic – which is watched over by several non-profits that even want to protect Lesná by law as a landmark.

Most buildings have recently been repaired.

Pros

• Quiet, safe neighborhood.
• Many leisure time facilities, including swimming pool.
• Affordable rents and prices of flats.

Cons

• Flats in the original buildings are rather old-fashioned and small.
• Lesná is relatively far from town’s centre, it takes about 20 minutes to get to the main station by tram. However, you can use a train line that reduces the commuting time under 10 minutes.
• Parking issues.

Modern buildings at the northern corner of Lesná.

Interesting places

There are two shanty towns built in the 1930s close to Lesná. “Divišova kolonie” (map) is the largest neighborhood of its kind in Brno. “Písečník” (map) is a real slum, however its atmosphere is destroyed by several new, huge, modern houses.

Best restaurants

I fell in love with a small pub “Dýmkařský klub” (“Pipe-smokers’ club”, map) at Studená st. They have several beers from small breweries on tap and the place has a family-like atmosphere. My former collegue recommends restaurant Na vyhlídce (map) – but I have not tried it yet.

There are many playgrounds at Lesná.

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