Brno, Czech Republic
Sparking public dialogue about the future of a public space
The Project
Brno is the Czech Republic’s second largest city, with a vibrant and youthful culture. The historic Bílý dům building at Žerotín square is the former administrative building of the Municipal Committee of the Communist Party, and the site has become a topic of contention in recent years, with some officials believing the building should be demolished. However, the area has also been identified as a good public space for organizing culture events and is seen as a location with opportunities to be further developed.
With the future of the building and the surrounding area remaining uncertain, the project’s goal is to draw the public to the newly activated space and bring forward questions of sustainability, citizen engagement, and increasing safety of a congested traffic junction. After holding an open call competition for artists, a winning design was chosen by a jury of three leading Czech artists and two city representatives. The finished artwork encourages public participation by allowing children to write messages in chalk in the bubbles which the painted characters are holding, which will fade away over time to give way for new messages to be continuously added.
- 94% of survey respondents state the intervention has positively affected their perception of the site
“The new painting has made the space on Žerotín square more pleasant. I hope this is the beginning. We can continue this on the streets of Brno and generally calm the traffic.”
Filip Chvátal, Chairman of the Commission for Construction and Spatial Development, Municipality of Brno Centre
Use the slider to see the transformation
Press
Žerotín Square in Brno begins to be decorated with a painting symbolizing diversity (Archiweb, June 2, 2023)
Žerotínovo Náměstí To Be Brought To Life Thanks To New Artwork (Brno Daily, April 25, 2023)
The space in front of the White House in Brno comes alive with large-scale paintings that purify the air (Zpravy Z Moravy, April 25, 2023)
The surroundings of the so-called White House in Brno will be brightened up by a large-scale colorful painting on the pavement (Brnan, April 14, 2023)
For inspiration and tips for the creation of art on roadways and public places, download the Bloomberg Associates Asphalt Art Guide which features successful plaza and roadway art activations around the world, as well as key steps for developing such projects.
