Florenc21
The project is part of a long-term strategy gradually transforming an area previously dominated by infrastructure and wasteland into a dense, mixed-use urban district - with plot B01 as a central puzzle piece in the development. The design brings together historic DNA, urban scale considerations, and a renewed public space strategy that responds to Prague’s layered cityscape.
Plot B01 occupies the most complex location in Florenc21 with a site shaped by the historic Bastion, the elevated Magistrála, and significant pedestrian flows. These defining elements are balanced in the architectural design through an activated and connecting ground level and a network of passages, stairways, and public routes that improve accessibility and strengthen connections between the city center and surrounding neighbourhoods.
The design forms an open yet connected urban cluster, defined by transitions, thresholds, and relationships rather than by singular architectural gestures.
By prioritizing continuity and spatial sequence, the development contributes to Prague’s overall transformation as a city shaped by layers and movement over time.
Public and commercial functions activate the groundfloor, bringing together the Bastion, the two new buildings, and the space beneath the elevated infrastructure into a unified urban ensemble. The publicly accessible ground floor forms the connective tissue of the project, while a continuous pedestrian network creates spatial structure. The wedge-like building volumes respond to the site constraints and its surroundings. A terraced roofscape creates a gradual transition, stepping down towards the lower scale of its surroundings.
Architecturally, the project balances solidity and openness through a robust yet refined material language. Modular façades and a clear structural logic support flexibility and long-term adaptability, while carefully designed building envelopes and integrated shading systems improve indoor comfort and reduce operational impact. The stepped volumes respond to the historic context, and offerers shared outdoor spaces with views across the city.
The ground floor is planned for a mix of programs ranging from retail, cafés to offices, community functions and more - to create a vibrant inclusive urban environment around the buildings. Formal street-facing functions coexist with more informal spaces, supporting a diverse urban character. Facades are defined by a modular rhythm that supports both architectural expression and interior flexibility. At ground level, the façades are more refined and transparent, supporting a human-scale expression.
Type: Competition 1st prize
Program: Mixed use
Client: Penta Real Estate
Size: 20.865 m²
Location: Prague CZ
Year: 2025 - 20XX
Collaborators: Ohboi
Image credits: Artefactory Lab, VividVision, Yanis Amasri Sierra
