1. Aspiration: The primary aspiration of our submission is to contribute to the rebirth of Jewish culture in Europe through the art of architecture. Our project takes a spiritual approach to landscape, volume and interiors to evoke both the history and future of Jewish culture, while empowering a city center through a purposeful application of contemporary architecture. What else can one expect from the arts but emotional, inspirational and functional beauty? 

2. Concept: The site is a historic setting at the urban core with a spacious plaza - the sort of public space all cities yearn for - so why build another building and lose this open space? This was the question we grappled with, ultimately opting to use this space as an opportunity for a seasonal landscape to become an icon for the public, where the landscape / facade gives access to a courtyard below. Our project's facade looks up, it is a field of  fresh grass, flowers, wild grasses, ivy nurtured by an urban botanical program. A staircase glides down to a magical interior courtyard which leads to the lobby of the museum. From there all functions branch out.

The museum we imagine acknowledges the past and establishes the groundwork for the Jewish future in Europe, a celebration of the true homeland of the intellectual despite past trauma and pain. This celebration is communicated through a powerful architectural metaphor; the city literally emerging from beneath the ground. As visitors descend into this space they are greeted by peace, serenity and light… a vision of humanity that can not be contained.

3. Function: Functionally, the ground level of our project is a park that has two  main entrances to the museum's courtyard, one from the top and one from the front where the trams pass by. There is an elevator, a quick grab cafe, fire stairs and a private staff entrance. Multiple secured access points to the park make it an active facade/roof where private and public events can take place in a dynamic space that is at once landscape, paving and iconic prismatic tiers. The old tree is preserved – a living testament to the history celebrated in the museum below. 

4. Conclusion: The city of Prague, the urban core, generations brushed by time – in short, the time-space continuum, is the fluctuating platform architecture must land on, gently yet bravely we must embrace the future, not for profit but for spirit. 

At the opening ceremony of a building the art of architecture looks as if the building has been there for ages, and this is what the ribbon cutter will feel when our building opens, in real or abstract worlds of creation.