Polish architectural bureau P2PA, working with LAN architecture studio, won the international architectural competition for the design of the Florenc 21 micro-district. The competition task was to develop a concept for the development of the B04 quarter, located in the area of Florenc station, at the junction of Karlín and downtown Prague. The selected project is part of a comprehensive process of transformation of this part of the city, implemented according to the masterplan adopted in 2022.
Urban context of Florenc 21
Florenc was for years subordinated to transport-related infrastructure. Now this area is the subject of one of the most important urban transformations in the whole of the Czech Republic. The project called Florenc 21, initiated by the city authorities through an international competition, envisages the creation of an intensively used district with a varied programme and high-quality public spaces. The planning assumptions developed by the teams of UNIT architekti, A69 – architekti and Marko & Placemakers focus on restoring the city’s continuity, improving the pedestrian situation and addressing climate challenges. The B04 quarter is part of the western phase of the development by Penta Real Estate, comprising four quarters with a total area of approximately 85,000 square metres.
Composition of quarter B04
The development quarter, designed by P2PA and LAN architecture, marks the southern boundary of the new district, remaining in the immediate vicinity of the railway line. The complex is made up of three buildings with residential and hotel-service functions. Each has been given a distinctly separate form and colour scheme. The western building is distinguished by its blue façade, the central hotel is designed in red, while the eastern residential building is shielded by openwork panels. From a distance, the building is interpreted as a set of simple, colourful volumes, while from the street and promenade level the varied textures, rhythms and details become visible. The whole is subordinated to a uniform geometric grid and sparse forms that correspond to the scale of the surroundings.
Project details by P2PA and LAN architecture
The urban layout of the quarter is based on a clear edge between compact buildings and the railway infrastructure. On the north side, the buildings form a continuous urban frontage, while on the south side their form is gradually relaxed, opening up to a promenade running along the tracks. From the bridges and footbridges over the railway line, the complex is perceived as a sequence of autonomous volumes co-creating the city skyline. The ground floors of all buildings are planned to be active and accessible to the public. Numerous service entrances, squares and extensions of the pedestrian routes encourage intensive use of this part of the district. An important role is played by the square at the Palais Desfours, from which access is possible to the different levels of the quarter.
Development of the quarter in Florenc 21
The development of the B04 quarter is formed by three buildings labelled B04A, B04B and B04C, which differ in function and form but are based on common compositional principles. On the west side, residential building B04A is located, which closes the frontage of the square by the Palais Desfours and organizes pedestrian traffic between the square, the street and the promenade. In the central part of the complex, the hotel B04B was designed, fulfilling the most public role, with services on the ground floor and a terrace on the upper level. The eastern residential building B04C shapes the southern façade of the complex and is responsible for the scale of the development along the street and promenade. The individual colours and façade detailing of the individual buildings contrast with the uniform rhythm of divisions, proportions and consistently applied geometry that organise the overall design of the B04 quarter.
Florenc 21 – when?
The process of shaping a new micro-district in Prague has been going on for almost five years, counting from the time of the first masterplan competition. During this time, the urban planning assumptions, the scope of the individual phases and the way in which the new development is linked to the existing infrastructure in the area have been refined. According to the investor’s declarations, it will take a comparable amount of time to complete the investment, which is also about five years. Construction work is scheduled to start in 2028, and the whole project is expected to be completed in 2031, provided there are no delays and the adopted schedule is maintained.
Source: P2PA, LAN architecture
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