How Prague is changing – city districts
Smíchov City – Sekyra Group
In 2020, developer Luděk Sekyra started the construction of the new Smíchov City district. The transformation of the local brownfield will be one of the significant changes awaiting Prague in the coming years. It is the largest project in modern history. Smíchov City is a project created on the site of one of the largest brownfields in Prague. A completely new neighborhood should grow on the site of the former freight station on an area of almost 20 hectares. It is supposed to be the largest one-off project in the history of the Czech Republic and will become a symbol of the transformation of Prague in the 21st century. The project also received positive feedback from the UNESCO commissioners, who appreciated that the new development does not in any way disturb the world heritage site. Construction began in September 2020 and is scheduled to last until 2032. The project is based on the principles of a traditional city. Therefore, there will be no shortage of quality public space, parks, squares, a school, and the plans also include traffic and parking solutions. According to the plans, almost 400,000 m² of residential, administrative, commercial or public areas will be created here in the future, including a city pedestrian boulevard with a length of one kilometer that will cross the entire district. “In this project, we are creating a full-fledged urban district with apartments, a school, parks, a community center and a brand new boulevard. It will be the first large compact undertaking since Vinohrady, when a completely new district is being built near the historic center of Prague. I believe that it will be a district that will fundamentally enrich Prague’s urbanism,” concludes Ludek Sekyra. The new Smíchovská development should stand out for its variety and diversity, mainly thanks to the different approaches of architectural offices.
At one table – Luděk Sekyra, Boris Redčenkov and Tomáš Homola over the Smíchov City project
Rohan City – Sekyra Group
The hitherto unused and neglected area of Rohanské ostrov, i.e. the area from Karlín to Libeň, will see a major transformation. Up to 4,000 apartments and a large natural park will be built here. Another significant benefit is that the area will fulfill the function of flood protection for Prague after revitalization. Several architectural studies are also involved in the creation of this district, which in particular is the variety and variety of individual buildings. There are names like Eva Jiřičná and Jakub Cígler. Expected completion is planned for 2030. In total, apartments and jobs for eleven thousand people are expected, the investment will exceed 20 billion crowns. “Our company focuses on the development of development projects, primarily in Prague. We develop projects in the field of residential housing, administrative buildings and shopping centers. We are currently developing more than a million square meters of new areas in Prague within the Smíchov City projects, where the investment will exceed more than 20 crowns, Rohan City, where we will build a green center of Prague with a promenade, an island and apartments, and Žižkov City, where more than three thousands of apartments. We emphasize sustainability, so that these are ecologically friendly projects and we try to change the face of Prague in the 21st century,” he says Ludek Sekyrafounder of Sekyra Group.
Personalities of contemporary architecture – Luděk Sekyra (Sekyra Group)
Freight station Žižkov – Central Group, Sekyra Group, Penta Real Estate, Finep, Amádeus Real, Geosan Development
another giant brownfield undergoing transformation is the Žižkov railway station. However, this development is not under the main direction of only one developer. The investor Central Group was the first to lay the foundation stone, followed in the coming years by Sekyra Group, Penta Real Estate, Finep, Amádeus Real and Geosan Development. In total, approximately seven and a half thousand apartments are to be built on the thirty hectares of the former railway station. The historic building of the freight station should be preserved, and in addition, it should represent the central object of the new quarter. The functionalist building from the 1930s, which has been a protected cultural monument since 2013 after a series of official and political disputes, will thus see restoration. According to preliminary plans, it is to become the socio-cultural center of the new quarter. The National Film Archive should relocate here. The entire location should then retain its industrial character. The author of the urban concept is the studio Jakub Cigler. The building of the former Telecom is also located in the neighborhood of the cargo station area. It is here that the residential project should grow according to the architect’s plans Eva Jiřičná and Petr Vágner from the studio AI DESIGN.
At one table – Jakub Cigler, Petr Vágner and Dušan Kunovský on the Nové Žižkov Center project
Drums-Zators
The future of one of Prague’s largest brownfields has been under discussion for several decades. During that time, there were many plans to deal with the neglected area, but none of them came to fruition. Now, however, things look promising and a new and modern urban district should grow on 110 hectares, which will offer a mix of administrative buildings, apartment buildings and the necessary greenery. The first ground breaking could occur around 2025. A complete new district could be created around 2040. The new district should connect Letná and Holešovice and provide housing for up to 25,000 inhabitants. The population density would thus be similar to Vinohrady. That’s why I’m also thinking about the entrance of administrative buildings, where thousands of people should find work. The proposal also envisages the construction of schools, kindergartens and places for cultural activities. “We have a great opportunity to create a functional district that responds to the current needs of the city – especially the lack of housing. Housing should therefore make up at least 60 percent, which we managed to write into the study assignment,” said the deputy mayor Petr Hlavácek. The authors of the territorial study are Pelčák and partner architects and ThomasMüllerIvanReinmann architekten GmbH from Berlin.
Personalities of contemporary architecture – Petr Hlaváček (Headhand Architects)
Nové Dvory – Prague development company
The location of Nový Dvorů in Prague 4 and Prague 12 is a key, almost 50-hectare area for the development of the city. A new urban district is also to be created here near the future metro station D Nové Dvory, as well as places for recreation and sports. The territorial study was prepared by the UNIT architects studio. “Thanks to the fact that the location is owned by the capital city, it will primarily have a residential character, and we will build all the necessary infrastructure for its new residents. After the change in the zoning plan, it will be possible to build up to 2,000 city apartments in Nové Dvory. The construction of the entire district will take place in stages and will take ten years,” he says Petr Hlavácek, mayor’s square m of Prague for territorial development. “Nové Dvory is not built just for new residents. Today, the vacant lot forms a natural center for the wider area. Thanks to the new amenities, the transformation of this location will have a positive effect on the surrounding area and the quality of life in it. We devoted a lot of effort to supporting transport structures, the distribution of equipment and the arrangement of new construction coordination in order to create a user-friendly and comfortable environment. The exit from the subway and the transfer to the tram and buses will take place in the cultivated area of the new square lined with shops and services.” supplies Philip Tittl from UNIT architects.
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Leoš Anderle, executive director of Sekyra Group Sekyra Group deals in real estate investment and development of commercial and residential real estate. It has been operating on the market since 1996, and its portfolio includes a number of representative Prague buildings. Their clients mainly include international corporations, domestic and foreign investors, but also tenants of individual housing units. The company realized the buildings of such companies as Česká spořitelna, Nestlé, T-Mobile and the National Technical Library. It also has roughly 7,000 apartments. He is currently working on the development of new city districts. The executive director of the company is Leoš Anderle.
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The final version of the territorial study of Bubny-Zátory in Prague is presented by experts and the public
The future of one of Prague’s largest brownfields has been under discussion for several decades. During that time, there were plenty of plans for how to deal with the territory, but none of them came to fruition. However, things look promising now, as the final version will be presented at a press conference.
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The management of Prague is deciding how the technical infrastructure networks will be managed in the future city district of Bubny-Zátory
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16 m 06 s
Petr Hlaváček (Headhand Architects)
Petr Hlaváček is a Czech architect and urban planner. He was born in 1961 in Zlín, in 1985 he graduated from the Faculty of Architecture of the Czech Technical University in Prague. Petr Hlaváček is a man of many functions. Not only does he own the studio Architekti Headhand with his wife, he also still works as a teacher and currently as the first deputy mayor of the city. m of Prague and councilor for the area of territorial development and spatial planning. In the last six years, it has therefore been most closely associated with the territorial development of the capital city.
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Central Group is planning a new urban district in Prague. The author of the project is architect Jakub Cigler
On the site of the existing Westpoint warehouse complex in Prague 6, Central Group plans to build a unique urban district with approximately 2,200 apartments. There will be a kindergarten, shops, restaurants and cafes. Construction should begin in 2023. The author of the urban design is the Czech architect Jakub Cigler.
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13 m 26 s
Jakub Cigler Architects
The company Jakub Cigler Architekti is an architectural studio that started its activities in November 2001. Immediately after its establishment, the company became one of the Czech studios dealing with progressive architecture. Her realizations and projects have been successful in a number of architectural competitions.
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16 m 11 s
Luděk Sekyra (Sekyra Group)
Prague developer Luděk Sekyra is a Czech businessman – owner of Sekyra Group, as, lover of philosophy and philanthropist. His development company has been operating on the Czech real estate market since 1996 and is one of the leading development companies in the residential and commercial segments. The Rohan City and Smíchov City neighborhoods are currently being created under the company’s baton, but it also has other important projects at the end that are changing the face of the capital.
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The Povolta Promenade connects Rohanský Park, Rokytka and the Trojská kotlina
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Rohan Island will become an attractive place for living and relaxing
The location from Karlín to Libeň will undergo a transformation. A thousand apartments and a large nature park will be built here. The area should thus be used for leisure activities in the future. Another significant benefit is that the area will fulfill the function of flood protection for Prague after revitalization. The first public presentation of the project took place via an online stream.