Prague is preparing to transform the bus station at Českomoravská into a square

Prague - Prague is preparing to transform the bus station near the metro station B Českomoravská into a square. This is intended to follow the renovation of the station, which was completed today after 14 months. The bus station is situated between the metro station, O2 Arena, and the shopping center Galerie Harfa. Part of the land belongs to the city council, while others belong to Prague 9, the investment group Kaprain, and the owner of O2 Arena - the company Bestsport. This was reported to ČTK by the mayor of Prague 9, Tomáš Portlík (ODS), and the deputy mayor for transport, Jaromír Beránek (Pirates).

"We still have a lot of work ahead of us. We are cooperating with the landowners of the current bus station to create an architectural competition that will develop the square. So that when we exit this new metro station, the space in front of O2 Arena matches that," Portlík said. According to him, the new square could be completed in about four years.

Beránek mentioned that the investment group Kaprain is preparing a fundamental transformation of the area around the station. He has a meeting planned with its director next month. "The bus station should be mostly relocated. Českomoravská station is very exposed, and the bus station in its current form does not meet the standards of what a high-quality public space should look like," Beránek said. According to him, buses should continue to stop by the metro, but the area should not serve for their parking.

Kaprain paid approximately 130 million crowns for the renovation of the upper vestibule of the metro station. A new administrative building, which will be built right next to it, will architecturally and visually connect to it. According to Kaprain's media representative Ondřej Pechar, elevators will be installed in the new building to ensure barrier-free access to the metro. Kaprain is now waiting for the issuance of a zoning decision for the construction of the building. When it will be completed is currently impossible to estimate, according to Pechar.

The company plans extensive construction in the area. "We will significantly expand beyond the two office buildings we built here under the Howden project, where we will build a new center for Vysočany and Libeň on approximately 50,000 square meters," said František Dombek from Kaprain.

During the renovation of the metro station, all electrical installations, air conditioning, lighting, and escalators were completely replaced. The old Soviet ones were replaced with robust ones capable of withstanding heavy loads. The original ceramic tiles were replaced with glass panels with bubbles designed by Maxim Velčovský.

The entrance vestibule was also changed. Excess and unused extensions were demolished, and the vestibule has been expanded towards Drahobejlová Street. Its floor plan now forms a simple rectangle. The original open view of the roof structure has been replaced with ceilings in which LED lighting is embedded.

Passengers of Prague's public transport can again use the B Českomoravská metro station starting this morning. Representatives of the city’s management and the Prague Public Transit Company (DPP) opened it after a renovation costing about a billion crowns, which was prolonged and lasted over 14 months. The city aimed to have it operational before the start of the World Figure Skating Championships, which will take place at O2 Arena from March 24 to 29.