Penta has begun the construction of two buildings near Masaryk Station in Prague

Prague - The investment group Penta has started the construction of two office buildings near Masaryk Station in Prague, designed by the late British architect Zaha Hadid. Completion, including modifications to the public space, is planned for mid-2023. The total costs will reach approximately 2.5 billion crowns, with an additional 200 million allocated for the reconstruction of Masaryk Station. Penta announced this to ČTK in a press release today.

"After recent security work on the walls of the pit following archaeological exploration, we are beginning the foundation of the two buildings designed by architect Zaha Hadid. Normally, construction would take a maximum of 18 months, but in this project, it will significantly exceed two years. The buildings have a complex load-bearing structure, and their cladding is also very complicated," said Penta Real Estate CEO Petr Palička.

By the end of this year, he said, the outlines of the buildings will be clearly defined by a reinforced concrete skeleton, and from next year, the shapes will take their final form. The total area will reach 28,000 m². In addition to offices, there will be restaurants, cafes, and services.

Along with the construction, Penta will start transforming the street Na Florenci, including its junction with Havlíčkova Street. "It will be significantly widened, and instead of a parking lot at its end, a small square will be created in front of Masaryk Station with modern entrances to the metro, new furniture, and green relaxation zones. The urban planning solution for the remaining area from the station towards the main road, as proposed by Zaha Hadid in her study, will also gradually take shape," Palička added.

After the archaeological exploration, which is expected to begin this April, Penta will build a hotel at the intersection of Hybernská and Opletalova streets. Penta already has a building permit, so it expects to complete the hotel at the beginning of 2024. "The Railway Administration will then connect the area by roofing the tracks," the company stated.

Penta intends to invest approximately ten billion crowns into the redevelopment of the brownfield around Masaryk Station, including the area in Prague 8. In March, it will hold an international competition workshop in cooperation with the municipality, the city districts of Prague 1 and Prague 8, and also with ČSAD. This should lead to a study that will serve as the basis for changing the urban plan in the Karlin section of the brownfield and also for a narrow strip along the main road, at the site of today's Manifesta. An international urban planning and architectural competition will then be announced. Penta anticipates that 100,000 m² of commercial spaces and apartments will be created here. "The overall implementation can hardly be estimated before the change of the urban plan, the international competition, and especially due to the length of the permitting processes," added Penta.

Recently, there have been disputes regarding Penta's development around Masaryk Station. It has been criticized, for example, by the opposition in Prague 1, the Czech National Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), the National Heritage Institute, and the Club for Old Prague.

The opposition in Prague 1 demanded that the city hall appeal against the zoning decision for the construction, which did not happen. According to city leadership, the municipality has agreed with Penta that in the second part of the project, which is planned towards Florenc, at least 40 percent of the apartments will be designated.