The leadership of Prague agreed to the competition for the transformation of the area around the Budějovická metro station

Prague – The future shape of the area around the Budějovická metro station in Prague 4 will be determined by an urban-architectural competition called New Budějárna, organized by Penta Real Estate along with the DBK shopping center. Prague city councillors agreed to its parameters today. Architects are to propose a new layout for the area surrounding the shopping center and adjacent public spaces, including planned construction. The winning proposal should be selected by the jury at the end of this November, with results expected to be known at the turn of this year and next.

The competition will concern an area of approximately 40,000 square meters defined by the streets Budějovická, Olbrachtova, Poláčkova, and Antala Staška. It includes a large block of commercial and administrative buildings around the DBK shopping center as well as connecting public spaces.

The competition's client is BP Olbrachtova, co-owned by DBK Praha and Penta Real Estate. Both companies are also the majority owners of the land in the area in question. Part of the land in the location is also owned by the City of Prague, whose representatives, along with representatives of the Prague 4 municipal district, will sit on the competition jury.

The goal of the competition is to obtain a comprehensive urban-architectural concept for the area's development that combines the intentions of private investors with the requirements of the City of Prague and the Prague 4 municipal district. According to earlier statements, it addresses the long-term unsatisfactory condition around the metro station, particularly in terms of the maintenance and cleanliness of public spaces. The winning team is expected to propose an improvement in the appearance and functionality of Budějovická that is also realistic in terms of future construction. The proposal should also include adjustments to the long-term unsatisfactory so-called pool located between the entrances to the metro station, which is positioned below the sidewalk level.

The competition will be divided into two phases. In the first phase, competing teams will develop conceptual designs from which the jury will select four to five advancing proposals. They will then refine their designs and present the final solution at a concluding workshop at the end of November, from which the jury will select the winner. This will be followed by a public exhibition of the competing proposals.

The Penta group recently, along with MAT Corporation, which owns the DBK and Europark shopping centers in Prague, purchased three buildings in the vicinity of Budějovická from Česká spořitelna. The bank is selling its current headquarters ahead of a planned move to a new headquarters in Smíchov in 2028. The new owners plan a complete transformation of one of the busiest parts of Prague.