Steel Wherever You Look

In close proximity to the Prague 7 town hall, there is unused space and old devastated industrial buildings. I am proposing a residential high-rise building and low-rise studios at this location. Both are located around the perimeter of the newly created square. The ground floor includes spaces intended for commerce, a café or sheltered workshops, where workshops and cultural events could take place. The second and third floors are reserved for art studios with their own social facilities and storage. Individual studios are intended for painters, musicians, architects and other artists, thus the building creates an inclusive environment supporting creativity and community cooperation. The thirteen-story building offers apartment units of various sizes - 1+kk, 2+kk, 3+kk. Each apartment has its own spacious balcony. In addition to the units reserved for artists, the larger apartments can be used by civil servants and ordinary residents. The building will be managed by the city district. Between the two buildings and the town hall, a square with benches and greenery is being created, which serves as a place for meeting, relaxation and organizing workshops, cultural events or art sessions. I tried to build on the industrial history, which is reflected in the appearance and materials used. The main elements are large windows, shed skylights and a steel gallery. This serves not only as a communication element, but also as an aesthetic accent, along which climbing plants climb. The brick facade refers not only to the factories, but also to the town hall, which completes the overall appearance of the square. Two shades of brick are used here, which distinguish the grid of the building and its fillings. The urban design solution respects the block character of the development typical of Holešovice. The newly designed objects copy the street line and logically complement the existing urban structure. At the same time, a new public space is being created - a square between the town hall and the residential building, which increases the quality of the environment and offers space for social, cultural and everyday activities of local residents. The public space between the buildings is designed as an accessible square with benches, greenery and the possibility of organizing cultural events. This space is designed as shared and open, thereby contributing to strengthening social ties and community life.