Sutnar Faculty students designed the interiors of the new town hall for Pilsen’s 4th district

The ceremonial hall and the council chamber. These are spaces whose design was significantly influenced by students from the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art at the UWB. Their designs have been brought to life in the new town hall building of Pilsen’s 4th district on Masarykova Street.

Students from the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (FDU) are gradually transforming the cityscape of the West Bohemian metropolis. The ceremonial hall of the Pilsen 4 Municipal District City Hall, designed by a student from FDU, has recently opened to the public. In the same building, students also helped renovate the council chamber. About twenty second- and third-year students in the bachelor’s program specializing in Furniture and Interior Design participated in the project, and first-year students in the master’s program also contributed their designs.

“We view addressing client briefs as an important part of the curriculum. Students work with a real client to design the overall concept and atmosphere of the interiors, while considering the user’s requirements. It is important to respect the purpose of the room, ergonomics, and the feasibility of the design, while remaining creative and original,” said Jana Potiron, Vice Dean for Creative Activities at the Faculty of Design and Architecture (FDU) at the University of West Bohemia and head of the Furniture and Interior Design studio. According to her, such projects are a valuable experience for everyone.

The ceremonial hall exudes a festive atmosphere thanks to its lighter tones, natural materials, and wooden elements. A crystal chandelier dominates the space. “It is composed of many sparkling elements and light sources, making it the centerpiece of the entire space,” Potiron described. The author of the winning design is Viktorie Sniegoňová, though several elements also originated from a design by Magdaléna Smutková. The council chamber, on the other hand, relies on the color blue, which, according to Jana Potiron, “conveys stability, trust, and solemnity,” as well as striking copper slats. A sophisticated acoustic solution also plays a key role. The walls are covered with fabric and wood paneling, and wooden slats are featured on the lectern and the main table. Adéla Chloupková and Pavla Malinová created the winning design for this space.

“We wanted to engage the younger generation and showcase their creativity and perspective. Collaborating with the local university seemed like a natural way to connect the academic environment with real-world projects in our district. Students often bring new ideas to the table and dare to think outside the box,” explained Jan Kakeš, deputy mayor of the district, regarding the essence of the collaboration with the Sutnar Faculty. Tomáš Soukup, mayor of Pilsen’s Fourth District, also praised the result: “We are very pleased that we were able to turn the selected designs into reality. Beautiful spaces have been created that feel harmonious, and so far we’ve received nothing but the best feedback.”

Collaboration with Pilsen’s Fourth District is nothing out of the ordinary for the faculty; on the contrary, it is part of a long-standing partnership. For example, Luděk Míšek from the Sculpture and Space studio created a memorial to General Josef Eret in Červený Hrádek, and the Comics and Illustration for Children studio is currently working on the second volume of the comic book “Doubravecké příběhy” (Doubravka Stories). Thanks to projects such as the redesign of the new town hall in Pilsen’s Doubravka district, students engage with real-world clients and learn to work with their requirements from the initial sketch through to final implementation. It is precisely this extension beyond the studio walls that the faculty considers an integral part of high-quality design education.

The public can tour the ceremonial hall and the council chamber on Saturday, May 23. The leadership of the Pilsen’s Fourth District will officially open the entire new city hall building. The program begins at 11:00 a.m. and ends at 7:30 p.m. Details are available on the Pilsen’s Fourth District website.