Ing. arch. David Poloch * 7. 9. 1992 Cheb, Czech Republic +420 774 164 326 polochd@gmail.com
work experience 07/2018-07/2019
agps architecture / Zürich, Switzerland, www.agps.ch architect - projects of different scales and competitions
09/2017-02/2018
agps architecture / Zürich, Switzerland, www.agps.ch intern - projects of different scales and model making
07/2016-08/2017
jurák chvilíček architekti / Prague, Czech Republic, www.jurakchvilicek.cz intern - various projects of individual housing and competitions
06/2015-01/2016
A69 architekti / Prague, Czech Republic, www.a69.cz intern - municipal library extension in Cheb
education 2015-2018 Czech Technical University / Prague, Czech Republic Faculty of Architecture master degree in Architecture and Urbanism 2016 Delft University of Technology / Delft, Netherlands Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment exchange program 2012-2015 Czech Technical University / Prague, Czech Republic Faculty of Architecture bachelor degree in Architecture and Urbanism 2004-2012 Grammar school Cheb / Cheb, Czech Republic
workshops 03/2017
The Sustainable Built Environment and Sustainability Management Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Architecture
04/2016
Robotic City: Library of Speculations IAAC Barcelona and TU Delft
11/2015
Františkovy Lázně studies for forest park in historical spa town
07/2015
Tanvald recreation of the missing town square
03/2013
Nákladové nádraží Žižkov transformation of space in former cargo train station into cultural site
competitions 10/2017
Antonín Raymond Award /student competition, 2nd prize renovation of Karel Wittgenstein’s square in the city of Kladno
03/2017
Olověný Dušan / award for the best project of the semester on FA CTU
11/2016
Rozárka park in Hradec Králové / Architecture and landscape competiton for young architects, 2nd prize, in collaboration with Adam Bažant
language skills
Czech (native), English (fluent), German (B1), French (A2)
software knowledge
Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator Autocad, Rhinoceros, Archicad, Google Sketchup, Vectorworks
other skills 3D printing, CNC milling
Revitalization of historical center of Cheb studio RedÄ?enkov-Danda at FA CTU diploma project
My hometown has been severely influenced by forced exodus of predominantly German inhabitants after the Second World War. As a result, population rate dropped dramatically and almost empty histocal center of Cheb started to degrade. Given its significant urban and architectural value, communist government of the Czechoslovakia decided on massive renewal of its oldest urban structures. Initial plan was to preserve and renovate all valuable buildings and to remove only unimportant courtyard extensions and huts. However, because of the unrealistic schedule and lack of proper monument preservation methods at that time, the city center redefinition resulted into extensive demolitions of some of the urban blocks. Those were either replaced by new buildings or left empty. Therefore, population density in the very core of the town remained quite low and Cheb lost a crucial portion of its charm. In spite of the fact, that what is left from the historical center is now in a very good shape, one can still percieve the missing urban structure resulting in odd relations of medieval buildings with prefab housing from sixties or unsufficient density of the oldest part of the town which is not as lively as one would expect from the city center. Based on the meticulous analysis of the current situation, I’ve developed a strategy for dealing with problems of the historical core with special emphasis on its relation to the newer urban tissue, redefinition of its borders and density. To demonstrate the proposed strategy I elaborated on the most problematic part of the historical center - eastern edge - where the whole street has been demolished in sixties . I filled in the missing urban structure, sometimes following its historical footprint, sometimes taking more contemporary approach (such as on the edge of city walls) while preserving as many buildings from 1960s as possible as an inherent layer of the town’s history. Additionally, several new connections of the town center with the adjacent quarters have been estabilished; the most important link created through great staircase clenched between two museum buildings. It is supposed to connect the Church Square with the street running further out into the currently industrial area with a huge potential to be redeveloped into residential quarter thanks to its advantageous location by the river and therefore help to nurture the historical center of Cheb with more life and activities.
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relation of the project perimeter (marked by the rectangle) to the potentially redeveloped part of the town (dashed)
Courtyards of Cheb art installation Cheb art festival
with Marketa Körnig and Kristýna Rajdlová After finishing our diploma projects all dealing with our hometown we wanted to present them to the public and get a feedback from inhabitants of Cheb. Therefore, we’ve sign up for the annual street art festival and created an object serving as a device visualising the potential future of the town imagined in our own designs. We’ve built three sided 2.5m heigh prism that we painted black and filled in with visualisations, plans, dioramas and tree-dimensional models of our projects. All of the content could be observed through irregularly placed holes in the black box. As a small remembrance, visitors could alsotake away postcards showing Cheb with photomontage of our proposals. Additional value of the instalation was its location in the private courtyard adjacent to the walls of 12th century monastery which is normally not accessible. The visitors had therefore an unique oportunity to experience unknown yet very near space hidden from them in everyday life.
Housing in Úvaly studio Kraus-Čančík at FA CTU best Faculty of Architecture semestral project award
The town of Úvaly lacks the urban character in spite of being home for 7500 inhabitants. The vast suburbia of low intensity, square cut off by busy railway corridor and the absence of distinctive landmarks and places to indentify with are the main problems of this municipality located in the proximity of Prague. The plot, which used to be a sugar rafinery site, is situated among town center and residential neighbourhood on the south. Therefore, it has a great potential to promote urbanity in Úvaly. In the norhern part of the perimeter, I have designed the complex of apartment buildings. It identifies itself against industrial spirit of its surroundings by clustering into expressive figure interconnected by a green terrace at first floor level. This structure provides a garden for residents and it also covers up the parking on the ground level. In the southern part of the plot adjacent to the frequented road, I have situated four family houses. They are protected from the traffic noise by a bulwark with trees and small halls covered in corrugated metal sheets, which can be used as a workshop or family business spaces. Those two typologies are joined together by community center and small public plaza situated at the crossing of the two roads traversing the area.
Rozárka park architecture competition for young architects collaboration with Adam Bažant project was awarded 2nd price Rozárka represents a place of a great significance for city of Hradec Králové because it is the only hill except for the one where the historical center is situated. The rest of the surrounding urban landscape is totally flat. The summit also provides an unique possibility to see the city as a whole - the nearby forest park, housing estates from seventies behind and towers of the dome on the main square with the hint of the highest Czech mountain in the background. Since this view is very rare in Hradec, we have decided to promote it to be the main aspect of our design. As a result, Rozárka becomes sort of natural amphitheatre. We have proposed the architecturalized view point on the edge of the steep slope, which is supposed to focus the attention of the viewer without covering abundant part of panorama. The the black wooden construction, set into the gravel surface, is adjacent to the picnic area comleted with barbecue spots. To commemorate the original use of the site as a ski slope, we’ve preserved distinctive original lampposts lining the meadow. Respecting the character of the place, we haven’t designed any specialized sportground, but the visitors can use the vast grass areas according to their own preference. The only exception is the second wooden construction in the western part of the park which includes children playground, small bistro and public toilets. As an alternative for the monumental spirit of the main stairs heading towards the view point we have designed a path meandering through the slope and crossing the surrounding forest. Among the trees we have placed three intimate and calm clearings with different atmospheres.
clearing with the well
clearing with the solitary trees
clearing with the sculpture
Conception of public spaces of Srbsko village architecture competiton with Adam BaĹžant
The main aim of the competition was to come up with a conception for public spaces of the village of Srbsko. Situated in a beautiful valley on the river Berounka, it boasts amazing landscape, which it is surrounded by. Therefore, it is also a popular destination for weekend trips and especially during summer it suffers from a lot of additional traffic. The aim of the design was to provide safe pedestrian path along the main road and offer so far lacking spaces for community life. We’ve got rid of unnecessary structures and elements occupying public space, calming it down and emphasizing its most important features such as chapel, village commong room, municipality office or solitary tree. All the alterations were designed in the way that keeps natural and rural character of the village. We used soft edges, indigenous species of plants and trees and local materials. Roads are covered with asphalt, pedestrian areas and parking spots with gravel reinforced by placing iregular stones into the surface. They are laid more densely in busy places and gradually disappear towards quiet areas.
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the main village common space
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space in front of the chapel
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municipal office
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path towards train station
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village cultural center
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riverbank
Square of Karel Wittgenstein in Kladno student competiton awarded with 2nd prize
The competiton task was to redefine curently chaotic part of Kladno adjacent to the city center which was severely affected by demolitions during past decades. The replacement of the former clearly structured street pattern by unified prefab housing solitaires changed the scale of the area dramatically. The space without distinguishable edges situated between the remaining old building mass and younger prefab housing estate is nowadays called ‘square’. In spite of this fact it has nothing in common with this term. In my approach, I tried to divide the enormous area into smaller and more tangible parts. In this way, I was able to grasp and concentrate the atmosphere of each place and support the activities taking place in those different environments. The result are three different public spaces - green recreational park, intense urban square in front of a newly designed museum and semipublic yard serving for community activities.
Renovation of synagogue in Klatovy studio Novotný-Koňata-Zmek Faculty of Architecture CTU Prague
The synagogue in Klatovy hasn’t been damaged during the Second World War as the majority of Jewish shrines but paradoxically later during the Communist era. After long time of neglection it became a storage building and was cut off the town by garages built in front of it. It’s a shame that even nowadays it serves partially as an archive and partially as fitness center. Stripped of its original facade elements and with different windows format, it’s utterly difficult to realise its former purpose when you look at it through unappealing courtyard behind medieval city wall. The proposal counts with renewal of the pedestrian links from the streets of the historical center. The dignity of the building is recovered by the new program - public hall for different occasions such as concerts or exhibitions accompanied by simple accomodation in a former Jewish school. The original facade harmed during last decades is renewed. Another important intervention is the design of the new public space in front of the former synagogue which is defined by two new buildings and retaining walls. The first of the new houses provides a space for photography and audiovisual art workshops and small gallery. The second represents the original function of the synagogue and offers the space for meditation and contemplation for its visitors.
underground
ground floor
1st floor
2nd floor
Interior of former synagogue in Klatovy studio NovotnĂ˝-KoĹˆata-Zmek at FA CTU interior project
The project of the interior renovation is the continuation of previous proposal concerning former synagogue in the town of Klatovy, Jewish memorial and House of Photography. Representing the most significant part, neglected synagogue was chosen to be further developed. The design approach is based on careful restoration of the historical building itself, especially the facades, which have been significantly transformed during past decades. Based on the current situation when there is no need for synagogue itself anymore, the desicion was made to transform it with respect into small concert and exhibition hall. The former gallery, now nonexistent, is reconstructed in contemporary architectural language as a cantilivered concrete strucuture without any additional support bringing more flexibility to the ground level of the hall. The adjacent building - former Jewish school - has been turned into cafĂŠ and small student hostel in the first floor. All alterations are made with respect to the historical building keeping or reconstructiong as much authenticity of the structure as possible. The concept of the interiors is minimalistic taking advantage of noble yet not expensive materials used in their raw beauty.
Bicycle street 5 Second Street The Why Factory studio - prof. Winy Maas, TU Delft
The aim of the studio called 5 Second Street was to explore the possibilites of different vehicles and their impact on the configuration of our living environment on the street and dwelling level. New designs came from the studies of the performances, characteristics and naturels of each means of transportation. Since the requirement was to use that one vehicle for all significant moves exclusively, every part of the design should have been accessible by the chosen means of transportation. That means full integration of it was unavoidable. To connect our ideas to some tangible environment, we have chosen a reference street in Rotterdam. Graaf Florisstraat was a convenient option because of its predominantly residential character. What we took from the existing situation was mainly the demography, volumes and the amout of traffic during the day. Later, we tried to build up a brand new street based on this data. I’ve chosen bicycle for my project. The fascination for this vehicle came from the fact that I believe it still has a lot of potentials to be explored. Eventhough it is not a revolutionary means of transport itself, I think it can be surprising and visionary when used in an extreme way - for all the movements in the street and for majority of them at home. What I really appreciate is the enviromental aspect of bicycle and its humble space requirements. Futhermore, while riding a bicycle you can still preserve the ability to be in conctact with your environment so it is quite easy to meet your friends or neighbours. Our question was what if the vehicle we were exploring became the one and only possibility in the future. What advantages and disadvantages would it bring? And how much time could we save by using this means of transport in ideally transformed environment. Therefore, my approach dealt with the aspects of maximum efficiency in movents in the street as well as at home. I have been exploring more possibilities of the unit configuration in order to find the most convenient one while also trying to contribute to the livable and pleasant environment which is not completely ruled just by the maximum performance.
Home away from home Delft Seminars on Building Technology Jos Lafeber, Corine Erades TU Delft The project reflects the task of the competition Home Away from Home which was to find possible solutions for refugee housing in Netherlands. It provides space for living which can be enlarged according to the needs of its inhabitants so they are not forced to move to another location in search for more convenient and spacious place. The simplicity and timewise undemanding assembly is emphasized as well as the reusability of the construction and its components. Light load-bearing structure is made from prefabricated wooden segments. Internal fittings including kitchen, bathroom or built-in wardrobe are placed in during the construction as the whole ready-made boxes. In case of need of house enlargement, the roof is removed, fittings-boxes are reorganized and another floor is added. The quality and brightness of the interior is enhanced by the translucent wall made from polycarbonate panels on one side of the house. Furthermore, the whole building is covered by the corrugated polycarbonate sheets which empasizes the lightness of the construction. Neglected railway viaduct in the center of Rotterdam has been considered as one of the possible locations for the project.
Extension of the municipal library Cheb studio RedÄ?enkov at FA CTU bachelor final project Cheb municipal library is nowadays situated in the original Art Nouveau villa which is considered to be the oldest library building still in use in the Czech Republic. However its capacity is not sufficient for the increasing amount of books and the children library and study rooms are spreaded in the different buildings two blocks away. The task is derived from the real-life necessity to integrate all library functions and services into one building. In my design, I wanted to preserve the dominant role of the original villa. By the proposed extensions, I interconnected it with other significant features in the area - medieval city walls, tower and monastery garden. Since all the services and spaces for cultural events and workshops were newly integrated into the reorganized existing building, I was able to use the whole extension for book display, reading and study areas and public cafĂŠ. The city wall tower has been transformed into the vertical circulation space interconnecting the parts of the library which evolve further along the city walls. The architecture of the extension is as transparent as possible to give a viewer a hint of the historical structures behind.