VIA UNA
History of the building
The Na Příkopě 969/33 building was built for the then Czech Eskompt Bank in 1930-1937 according to the project of architects Karel Jaray, Rudolf Hildebrant, Alexander Neumann, Ernest von Gotthilf and Josef Sakař, and since 1958 it is registered as a protected monument at the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.
The building of the original Eskompt nad loan bank is located on the edge of the residential block between Na Příkopě and Celetná streets, which cross at a sharp angle. The plot thus has the shape of a triangle with an acute angle at the tip. While the wide and straight street Na Příkopě is one of the main modern big city boulevards, Celetná street, on the other hand, is a relatively narrow and winding street in the historical development of the city. In front of the top of the plot at the end of Celetná Street stands the distinctive historic landmark of Prašná Brány, in front of which the public space at the intersection of a total of four streets expands into a small square. While the side of the plot near Příkopy is straight, the other side near Celetná is curved with a smooth curve.
The original concept at the time of the creation of the architectural solution for the construction of the bank headquarters had to maximize the potential of the building plot in order to fulfill the specification of optimal storage of the underground vault of the required volume and resistance, so that it could be based on a regular skeletal structure of above-ground office three-tracts in three wings around the perimeter of the plot and that in on the lower representative floors, the entire area of the plot, including the inner courtyard, could be used for the establishment of representative spaces linked by a solid and legible architectural composition. The project also had to fit a maximally dimensioned construction program into the limited volume, given by the limited area and shape of the plot and height, limited by the regulations of the regulatory plan in force at the time. The challenging task was to find the optimal harmony between the above-mentioned requirements of internal operation and layout with the external requirements, given by the urbanistic ties of the unique plot. At that time, the prestigious character of the rich banking institution was matched by the conservative style of the architectural solution, which was a semantic expression not only of its wealth, but also of solidity, resistance and durability, as well as the requirement for the most modern equipment of the time. These goals were achieved, although the construction took place at the time of the beginning of the economic crisis in an austerity regime.
From its construction until recently, it served its original purpose as a banking house.
About the project
Marani Architects was commissioned to design and preparation of the project for the renovation of this building to meet today's highest standards. The upper floors will be used as state-of-the-art office space. The underground floors and the ground floor will now be used as generous retail space. Due to the strict preservation of the building, the biggest challenge for our team was the combination of incorporating modern technologies and preserving the original historical tone. It was essential that all parts of the building, i.e. both administrative and retail, should have the highest level of comfort. Therefore, technological and backbone distributions were placed not only in the underground parts, but also in the attic. This made it possible to reach all parts of the building so that all the installations and modern technology were as hidden as possible and did not disturb the character of the historic building. Several elevators were also added to increase the transport capacity, including one evacuation elevator to increase the safety of the building.
Another challenge was the creation of a suitable modern interior design for the entrance lobbies, all common areas, communication cores and sanitary facilities. As already mentioned, the building is subject to strict heritage protection, and therefore these proposals and design had to be consulted and coordinated with history experts and representatives of the Czech Republic's heritage preservation.
Despite all these difficulties, the project received a building permit in 2020 and an occupancy permit in 2022.
Awards achieved in 2023:
European Property Awards Architecture – 5 Star – Best Mixed Use Architecture Czech Republic – 2022 (1st place)
Best of Reality 2022, Office, 2nd place
International Property Award – Best Mixed Use Architecture Europe – VIA UNA – 2022-23 (1st place)
International Property Award – Best International Mixed Use Architecture – VIA UNA – 2022-23 (1st place)
The Na Příkopě 969/33 building was built for the then Czech Eskompt Bank in 1930-1937 according to the project of architects Karel Jaray, Rudolf Hildebrant, Alexander Neumann, Ernest von Gotthilf and Josef Sakař, and since 1958 it is registered as a protected monument at the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.
The building of the original Eskompt nad loan bank is located on the edge of the residential block between Na Příkopě and Celetná streets, which cross at a sharp angle. The plot thus has the shape of a triangle with an acute angle at the tip. While the wide and straight street Na Příkopě is one of the main modern big city boulevards, Celetná street, on the other hand, is a relatively narrow and winding street in the historical development of the city. In front of the top of the plot at the end of Celetná Street stands the distinctive historic landmark of Prašná Brány, in front of which the public space at the intersection of a total of four streets expands into a small square. While the side of the plot near Příkopy is straight, the other side near Celetná is curved with a smooth curve.
The original concept at the time of the creation of the architectural solution for the construction of the bank headquarters had to maximize the potential of the building plot in order to fulfill the specification of optimal storage of the underground vault of the required volume and resistance, so that it could be based on a regular skeletal structure of above-ground office three-tracts in three wings around the perimeter of the plot and that in on the lower representative floors, the entire area of the plot, including the inner courtyard, could be used for the establishment of representative spaces linked by a solid and legible architectural composition. The project also had to fit a maximally dimensioned construction program into the limited volume, given by the limited area and shape of the plot and height, limited by the regulations of the regulatory plan in force at the time. The challenging task was to find the optimal harmony between the above-mentioned requirements of internal operation and layout with the external requirements, given by the urbanistic ties of the unique plot. At that time, the prestigious character of the rich banking institution was matched by the conservative style of the architectural solution, which was a semantic expression not only of its wealth, but also of solidity, resistance and durability, as well as the requirement for the most modern equipment of the time. These goals were achieved, although the construction took place at the time of the beginning of the economic crisis in an austerity regime.
From its construction until recently, it served its original purpose as a banking house.
About the project
Marani Architects was commissioned to design and preparation of the project for the renovation of this building to meet today's highest standards. The upper floors will be used as state-of-the-art office space. The underground floors and the ground floor will now be used as generous retail space. Due to the strict preservation of the building, the biggest challenge for our team was the combination of incorporating modern technologies and preserving the original historical tone. It was essential that all parts of the building, i.e. both administrative and retail, should have the highest level of comfort. Therefore, technological and backbone distributions were placed not only in the underground parts, but also in the attic. This made it possible to reach all parts of the building so that all the installations and modern technology were as hidden as possible and did not disturb the character of the historic building. Several elevators were also added to increase the transport capacity, including one evacuation elevator to increase the safety of the building.
Another challenge was the creation of a suitable modern interior design for the entrance lobbies, all common areas, communication cores and sanitary facilities. As already mentioned, the building is subject to strict heritage protection, and therefore these proposals and design had to be consulted and coordinated with history experts and representatives of the Czech Republic's heritage preservation.
Despite all these difficulties, the project received a building permit in 2020 and an occupancy permit in 2022.
Awards achieved in 2023:
European Property Awards Architecture – 5 Star – Best Mixed Use Architecture Czech Republic – 2022 (1st place)
Best of Reality 2022, Office, 2nd place
International Property Award – Best Mixed Use Architecture Europe – VIA UNA – 2022-23 (1st place)
International Property Award – Best International Mixed Use Architecture – VIA UNA – 2022-23 (1st place)
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