The development of Prague lies in the creation of sustainable urban districts and projects

The Prague Development Company (PDS), a contributory organization of the City of Prague, has been entrusted by the Council of the City of Prague with a real estate portfolio that currently comprises over 800,000 m² of urban land intended primarily for residential development. It is preparing more than 50 projects aimed at constructing 6,000 - 8,000 apartments over the next 10 years. PDS, in line with current urban trends and the Climate Plan of the City of Prague, is developing long-term sustainable construction that prioritizes multifunctional use and is environmentally friendly throughout its lifecycle. The projects being prepared by PDS include both entire new urban districts and smaller to medium-sized residential projects. In preparing these projects, PDS employs innovative approaches to ensure they meet the strictest criteria for investment and operational efficiency while adhering to the highest standards of environmental protection.

Compact City of Short Distances

Petr Hlaváček, Deputy Mayor of the City of Prague responsible for urban development, states: “In accordance with the best urban planning practices, we are preparing fully functional new districts with diverse uses for the large development areas owned by the city. In addition to housing, they will offer job opportunities and space for education, culture, social gatherings, shopping, sports, and relaxation. This is how a city of short distances is created. It consists of independent micro-centers where life thrives, and through which the metropolis develops sustainably in social, economic, and ecological terms.”

One of the development areas where PDS is preparing multifunctional construction of a complete urban district is Nové Dvory near the future metro station. In Nové Dvory, the construction of urban rental apartments and spaces for administration, retail (shops, cafés, various services), education (kindergartens, primary schools, and secondary schools), and both indoor and outdoor sports facilities is planned. In total, up to 5,000 people are expected to live here. The Jalodvorská meadow park will undergo reclamation, which will be complemented by new smaller squares, emphasizing blue-green infrastructure.

Environmental Study of Nové Dvory

Petr Urbánek, Director of PDS, says: “For Nové Dvory, a comprehensive environmental study was developed using highly advanced technologies, including CFD (computational fluid dynamics), assessing wind flow in the area, solar radiation intensity, the influence of greenery regarding shading and improving thermal comfort, evaporation, and the balance of precipitation water. The design used a 3D model of the proposed development and a variety of other digital inputs. The resulting recommendations will be utilized for the creation and planning of public spaces, the external shaping of buildings, or calculations of their energy balances. It is also worth noting that the highest environmental and energy standards are now a necessary condition for public contracting entities to obtain any form of financing from European or standard financial sources. Meeting these standards opens up the possibility of significantly reducing costs for potential project financing from external sources.”

An example may be the use of rainwater. Currently, most of the rainwater in Nové Dvory is drained away from the area through stormwater drainage. As part of the study, solutions were sought to support the natural water cycle and the return of rainwater back to the site of impact. The blue-green infrastructure proposal includes green roofs, retention tanks, and the requirement for utilizing rainwater from roof surfaces. Water from selected roofs will be channeled into retention tanks and can be appropriately used for irrigation or within the building. Green strips in roadways as flow-through areas that slow drainage from paved surfaces are also being considered. Another element includes retention surface tanks that improve the microclimate, provide aesthetic value to the area, increase biodiversity, and slow and retain drainage.

For the Jalový Dvůr project, which is part of Nové Dvory, PDS has produced a comprehensive comparative calculation of the structural construction system. The result of this calculation is that the use of CLT (cross-laminated timber) panels is the most advantageous. This is based primarily on: the accuracy and speed of construction,
the maximization of usable rentable square meters of floor area.

Energy Self-Sufficient District of Dolní Počernice

The construction of a new district in Dolní Počernice has been included in the European Horizon Europe program, which funds research, innovation, and the exchange of information in areas that support climate neutrality for European cities by constructing energy-positive and CO2-neutral urban parts (known as Positive Clean Energy Districts, PCEDs). The ASCEND project involves a total of 10 European cities such as Munich, Lyon, and Stockholm.

For Prague, a working group consisting of representatives from PDS, UCEEB, and OICT was established to jointly prepare a concept for energy-environmental solutions for Stage 2 of the new district in Dolní Počernice. The urban rental buildings there are being designed to passive standards, emphasizing the accumulation capabilities of internal structures and passive shading of the exterior. In the new district, there is a plan to utilize its own multi-source energy center with a local distribution system. This includes, among other things, the use of geothermal and solar energy, a cogeneration gas boiler, and its own accumulation tanks.

Plans for 2024

This year significantly advances the preparation of projects for which calls for proposals for project documentation / contractors for project work or architectural competitions were issued in 2023. Contracts have been signed with selected architects/designers, and work on individual phases of specific projects has commenced.

“In 2024, PDS will initiate the permitting process for two to four projects. Intensive work on coordination and preparation of large development areas will continue, particularly in locations such as Nové Dvory, Palmovka, and Dolní Počernice. By mid-year, we will also present the regular annual update of the market valuation of the land entrusted to PDS for management. We will greatly welcome the achievement of an agreement during this year, or early next year, on a specific solution regarding the sources and structure for financing the construction costs of urban rental housing. We also expect that PDS will continue certain expert activities for the founder of the City of Prague, such as the creation of a development concept for regions such as Na strži, Kasárna Karlín, and others,” concludes Petr Urbánek.