The construction of Penta near Masaryk Railway Station in Prague will start next year

Prague - Construction of a new administrative building in close proximity to Masaryk Station in Prague's heritage conservation area is expected to begin next year. The investment group Penta aims to open the facility in mid-2019. This is based on information published on the EIA portal. Penta's spokesperson Ivo Mravinac told ČTK today that the plan to build the structure according to the design of the recently deceased British architect of Iraqi origin Zaha Hadid remains in place. However, the proposal has raised concerns among professionals.

Deputy Mayor Petra Kolínská (SZ/Trojkoalice) told ČTK that discussions with the investor will continue regarding the final appearance of the building. "There is surely no dispute that a long-neglected area needs revitalization and accessibility. The capital must ensure that the resulting transformation of the area at the largest redevelopment site in the historical center of the city offers the public not only office and commercial spaces but also a park and quality housing. Without residents, the neighborhood will be dead after working hours," she stated to ČTK.

The announcement, which is part of the environmental impact assessment (EIA), pertains to a section of the project bounded by Masaryk Station and the streets Havlíčková and Na Florenci. An administrative building with shops and restaurants will be created, comprising 32,000 square meters of above-ground floor space. The plan includes seven to nine floors with rooftop terraces and an underground garage for 229 cars. The investor promises overall revitalization of the area and new connections with the station and the neighboring Florentina complex. The project includes landscaping plans. The use of rainwater for irrigation and toilet flushing is also in the plans, as stated in the announcement.

The material does not focus much on the future appearance of the building. It will feature a reinforced concrete structure and glass facades with protruding louvered elements. The project is based on the design by architectural studio Jakub Ciegler. "The office of Zaha Hadid Architects is the conceptual architect; the study was developed based on the design by Jakub Ciegler," explained Penta's spokesperson. According to earlier information, the building according to Hadid's design is intended to resemble railway tracks, which will symbolically conclude with a transition into a kind of golden tower.

The construction is coordinated with the planned reconstruction of Masaryk Station. There are plans to renovate the bus station at Florenc, which is set to begin in March next year. The project involves a pedestrian connection between both stations and the Main Station. However, that is a matter for a different procedure, the announcement states.

The project concerning the construction near Masaryk Station is over ten years old. The complex of eight buildings covering the area from Masaryk Station to Florenc is expected to cost around 6.5 billion crowns. In 2004, Czech Railways signed an agreement granting Penta a right of first refusal on the land. For the first phase, Penta purchased land from Czech Railways for 235 million crowns in January of this year.