Work on Prague transport hub underway — LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AOTEAROA

Slated to open in 2023, construction has begun on Zaha Hadid Architects’ Masaryčka, a project that replaces an existing carpark to offer access to new public spaces, all within a major transport hub in Prague.

The 28,000 square-metre building is split in two, with seven stories in its eastern section and nine in its western section. A rooftop terrace offers spectacular views of the city, while a plaza at ground level increases pedestrian circulation.

Masaryčka is a project replacing a carpark with access to new public spaces, all within a major transport hub in Prague.

Retail levels on the ground and first floor are now complete, and construction has begun on higher floors, with cantilevered offices and terraced roof gardens.

Adjacent to the railway station and a derelict and abandoned site, Masaryčka will replace the existing carpark on Havlíčkova Boulevard with a new public square. The square will act as a welcoming gateway to the city and includes entrances to the city’s metro network.

A rooftop terrace will offer spectacular views of the city, while a plaza at ground level increases pedestrian circulation.

A new public park will be created over the railway tracks, as well as a new pedestrian route between Na Florenci Street in the north and Hybernská Boulevard to the south. The transformation of Na Florenci Street into a tree-lined avenue will provide cooling summer shade and natural air purification.

Zaha Hadid will plant shrubs and trees throughout the site to be irrigated by rainwater collection.

A new square will act as a welcoming gateway to the city and include entrances to the city’s metro network.

Local suppliers and materials with high recycled content have been prioritised in construction and procurement, with a goal to meet the 2025 targets for embodied and operational carbon established by the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge.

Masaryčka is targeting a LEED Platinum certification. A triple insulated facade ensures natural light at all work stations and in communal areas, and natural ventilation, roof gardens and waste heat recovery systems all contribute to the sustainability of the project.

Photovoltaic panels harvest renewable energy, and smart management systems monitor and adjust environmental controls, reducing the building’s overall energy consumption.