The underpass that thousands of people walk through daily will be transformed into a place of light, safety, and creativity. As part of the European Capital of Culture Trenčín 2026, the winners of the Elizabeth Underpass competition – which sought the best design for this transformation – have been announced.
An Experience, Not Just a Passage
A daily walk under the city can be more than just moving from point A to point B. Thanks to the Trenčín 2026 project and the Elizabeth Underpass competition, the space will become a place that sparks curiosity.
The goal of the competition was to find a design that would transform the underpass into a safe, pleasant, and accessible public space – while also creating a platform for presenting the activities and values of the European Capital of Culture.
The jury selected the top three proposals.
🥇 1st Prize: Büro Milk, s.r.o.
Team:
Mgr. Art. Danica Pišteková, ArtD.
Ing. arch. Tomáš Tholt, PhD.
Martin Jenča
Martin Péchy
The jury appreciated the original approach to working with light and artistic expression.
🥈 2nd Prize: Ing. arch. Ivan Kanich and team
Team:
Ing. arch. Ivan Kanich
Ing. arch. Tomáš Danko
Ing. arch. Natália Marková
Ing. arch. Ivana Fabiánová
The jury highlighted the strong concept and functional solution, which combines practicality with atmosphere.
If the winning proposal cannot be implemented, the jury recommends entering negotiations with this team.
🥉 3rd Prize: Ing. arch. Alexander Kupko and team
Team:
Ing. arch. Alexander Kupko
Ing. arch. Alexander Topilin
Third place was awarded for a solution that combines bold visual aesthetics with simplicity and respect for the space.
How Will the Underpass Work?
After the transformation, the underpass should be:
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better lit,
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accessible and safe,
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full of subtle artistic elements that reflect the themes of Trenčín 2026,
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and a space for presenting project activities.
A key requirement was full accessibility – including for parents with strollers and people using wheelchairs. The artistic intervention may work with space, light, or sound but must remain functional and inclusive.
The Jury Included Experts from Slovakia and Abroad
The evaluation of the proposals was carried out by artists, architects, and public space experts, such as:
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Martin Piaček (Academy of Fine Arts and Design, Bratislava)
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Jana Benková (architect)
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Vivien Doumpa (Placemaking Europe)
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Samu Forsblom (Programme Director of Oulu 2026)
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Omar Mirza (City Curator, Trenčín)
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and jury expert Vladimír Beskid, former Programme Manager of Trenčín 2026
