An international contest is being held to reimagine a pedestrian underpass in the centre of Trenn, Slovakia (Deadline: 4 April)The single-stage competition seeks proposals for a permanent artistic-architectural intervention to upgrade the city centres main underpass attracting new visitors to the space, improving its illumination and enhancing the feeling of safety.Concepts will be expected to draw attention to Trenns status as joint European Capital of Culture Trenn 2026 and respond to the festival theme of Awakening Curiosity. Proposals may include light, sound or space interventions with digital panels highlighting events from the Trenn 2026 programme.Competition site: Trenn underpass, SlovakiaCredit:Image by Marek JanchAccording to the brief, Within the framework of the European Capital of Culture Trenn 2026 project, the Creative Institute Trenn announces an artistic-architectural competition. The aim of the competition is to show the potential of the underpass, to improve its overall impression for pedestrians, and at the same time to use this specific public space for the presentation of the activities of Trenn 2026.The aim of the competition is to define vision and strategy for the underpass and to transform the underground part of the underpass into a safe, pleasant, illuminated and accessible public space with elements of art and design. The intention, of course, is not to motivate people to spend their free time in the underpass, but to contribute to a change in the perception of the place.Located 95km northeast of Bratislava, Trenn is a historic city which developed around the third-largest castle in Slovakia. The settlement will be joint European Capital of Culture alongside Oulu in Finland next year.In 2023, the nearby City of Trnava launched an open international contest to masterplan a new 135ha urban extension.The latest contest comes two years after Londons Studio Egret West and Oslos Snhetta revealed their competition-winning designs for a major mixed-use development in Bratislava.Organised by Creative Institute Trenn the competition focusses on upgrading a key underpass located beneath the Square of the Slovak National Uprising in the centre of the city, connecting the historic core to a nearby park and train station.The project aims to transform the busy but dark and uninteresting underpass into a safe, pleasant, illuminated and accessible public space. Key aims include encouraging pedestrians and cyclists to slow down or stop briefly by having a memorable engagement with a light or sound installation.Judges will include the architect Jana Benkov; the artist and university lecturer Martin Piaek; Samu Forsblom, program director at European Capital of Culture Oulu 2026; and Vivien Doumpa, urbanist and board member of Placemaking Europe.The winner, to be announced in late April, will receive a 3,000 prize and 60,000 to deliver the intervention. A second prize of 2,400 and third prize of 1,800 will also be awarded.How to applyDeadline: 3pm, 4 AprilCompetition funding source: Trenn 2026, European Capital of CultureProject funding source: Trenn 2026, European Capital of CultureOwner of site(s): City of TrennContact details: hana.lassova@trencin2026.euVisit the competition website for more information