The area of Havlíčkův Brod’s main square, which returned to its original name after 1989, was laid out when the town was founded in the second half of the 13th century. Since then, the square of almost one hectare has been surrounded by buildings that mostly respect the original Gothic layout, and the ground plan has remained unchanged to this day. The space is dominated by the Marian column from around 1720, whose replacement with a statue of Karel Havlíček was the subject of controversy in the early 1920s, as well as by the so-called Koudelova fountain from the second half of the 18th century.

The square’s appearance was subsequently determined mainly by modifications in the second half of the 20th century, when a green area with trees was newly established in its northeast corner near the Marian column, and its surface consisted of mismatched interlocking paving and a mixture of randomly added materials.

In 2004, owing to the square’s poor condition, a competition was announced for the rehabilitation of the historic city centre, aiming to fully renovate it while preserving its historic elements and enhancing the space with modern urban furniture and a summer stage for cultural events. The competition was won by the Brno-based architectural firm Burian‑Křivinka, renowned for its extensive experience in designing entrances to historic public spaces in smaller towns, including Litomyšl, Moravská Třebová, and nearby Lipnice nad Sázavou.

According to the project by Aleš Burian and Gustav Křivinka, whose aim was to create a harmonious blend of old and new, the square was repaved with original granite cubes, parking areas were reorganized, and pavements were widened and surfaced with granite slabs from the nearby Lipnice quarries. The removal of the non-functional green area around the Marian column sparked heated debate; it was replaced by low tree planting, roughly matching the extent of greenery present at the beginning of the 20th century.

The newly freed-up space was furnished with modern, often unconventional street furniture and functional objects resembling works of art, including bronze drinking fountains, steles featuring quotes by Karel Havlíček Borovský, and a reconstructed well. The project also incorporated a mobile grandstand for cultural events. The square’s reconstruction was subsequently complemented by modifications to the adjacent Svatovojtěšská street and Rubeš Square.

The successful renovation deservedly won several awards – the Stavebnictví magazine award, the title of Building of the Year in the Vysočina Region 2011, and the main prize from Moderní obec magazine – and marked the beginning of long-term collaboration between the town and the Burian-Křivinka architectural firm.