Slezské Předměstí Housing Estate

The Slezské Předměstí (Silesian Suburbs) housing estate was built in the northeastern part of Hradec Králové as the first prefabricated housing estate in the city. At one point, it was also the largest; however this distinction was later surpassed by the Moravské Předměstí (Moravian Suburbs) housing estate. The estate’s main axis is Pospíšilova třída Street, which continues into SNP Street. This primary thoroughfare connects Slezské Předměstí (Silesian Suburbs) to the historical city center and divides the housing estate into two main sections: Slezské Předměstí – North and Slezské Předměstí – South. It is further subdivided into several other units, the oldest of which is the Markovická Housing Estate.

 

Several development proposals for the housing estate were drafted during the first half of the 20th century, with contributions from prominent architects such as Jan Rejchl, Oldřich Liska, Josef Havlíček, and František Bartoš. The final and most ambitious plan was prepared by architect Jan Zídka in 1959, who served as the lead designer. By that time, however, construction of apartment buildings with commercial ground floors along Pospíšilova třída Street had already been underway for two years. Zídka’s urban development plan emphasized a contrast between low-rise and high-rise slab buildings, ensuring they were spaced far enough apart to preserve the area’s spatial quality and create a pleasant living environment with green spaces. The diversity of the housing estate was further achieved through varied building orientations—some parallel, others perpendicular or diagonal to the streets. However, until 1962, however, it remained uncertain whether Zídka’s design would be executed within the state-approved first stage of construction, or if the parallel-planned Labská kotlina II housing estate would take precedence. By government decision, the Slezské Předměstí (Silesian Suburbs) housing estate was ultimately selected.

 

The city’s road network was already well established before the construction began, requiring partial adaptation of the zoning plan. Only a small number of demolitions was necessary, involving 39 family houses and an apartment building. The original development plan aimed to provide nearly 4,200 apartments, intended to accommodate approximately 15,000 residents. However, according to the 1970 census, this estimate proved to be overly optimistic.

As mentioned earlier, construction of the housing estate began along Pospíšilova třída Street, where the northern side was lined in 1958 with low-rise slab buildings featuring a highly glazed commercial ground floor. These structures were built using the standardized T02B and T03B systems. The dominant architectural feature of the street was the late modernist Alessandria Hotel, complemented The Elbe Flower, a large sandstone sculpture by Vladimír Preclík. Although these early buildings had brick-block partition walls, prefabricated housing soon became the standard in the estate. From 1960, the HK system, a regional prefabrication technology, became predominant. This system was developed by Stavoprojekt Hradec Králové in 1960 and later underwent further refinement. It was used for both terraced housing units and ten-story apartment buildings.

 

The older part of the housing estate, Slezské Předměstí – North, was built between 1963 and 1966 (although many finishing works were delayed beyond this period). It is bordered by Pospíšilova třída and SNP Streets to the southeast, Pouchovská Street to the west, and the railway line to the north. The natural center of the housing estate developed around the Severka complex, which housed essential civic amenities (including a social hall with a cinema, a library and reading room, clubrooms and restaurants, medical offices, and various services). It was in Slezské Předměstí – North, particularly along Gagarinova and Markovická Streets, that Stavoprojekt Hradec Králové began constructing experimental buildings to test new prefabrication assembly systems. However, for most part, HK60 prefabricated buildings dominated the area. One of the most notable structures is located on Severní Street—the longest prefabricated building in the housing estate, measuring 316 meters in length with 20 entrances. Built between 1963 and 1964, it is commonly referred to as ‘the cowshed.’

 

Slezské Předměstí – South was built between 1965 and 1968 (although, as with the northern section, numerous delays followed). The urban complex is bordered by Pospíšilova třída and SNP Streets to the north and Víta Nejedlého Street, which connects to Bratří Štefanů Street (formerly Rudé armády Street), to the south. A key social and functional hub of the housing estate developed around Jižní Street and its surroundings, where several important buildings were located, including an elementary school, a polyclinic, and the seven-story building of Stavoprojekt Hradec Králové. (Originally, an ambitious plan was proposed for Stavoprojekt’s administrative headquarters, envisioning the tallest building in the country, with 18 to 20 floors. The structure was to feature an experimental steel frame and macromolecular cladding materials. However, this project was ultimately abandoned.) The HK65-type prefabricated buildings dominate the housing estate, but non-standardized structures were also introduced. Among them are four thirteen-story apartment buildings along Bratří Štefanů Street, featuring a combined structural system (a prefabricated skeleton with gas silicate cladding). 

 

The housing estate includes three elementary schools (the SNP Street Elementary School, the North Elementary School, and the South Elementary School), several kindergartens, and nurseries. As was common practice, public artworks were incorporated into the estate’s surroundings. These included the statue of a cat placed in front of the nursery on Gagarinova Street, whose creator remains unknown, and sculptures by Karel Hyliš, once located in front of the South Elementary School and the SNP Street Elementary School (removed in the 1990s). to enhance resident convenience, additional amenities were built, including self-service laundries, which were stand-alone buildings or integrated into the technical infrastructure of residential buildings. Similarly, garages were built separately or incorporated into the basements of HK-type prefabricated houses. 

 

KJ