The revitalisation of the former railway site in Florenc is taking shape: the winning designs for four blocks have been confirmed. Florenc 21 is set to provide housing, offices, and public spaces, connecting Karlín with the New Town.
The redevelopment of the former railway site in Florenc is taking concrete form. An international jury has selected the winning designs for four of the planned blocks. Together with the previously chosen administrative block B06, the final design for the first construction phase is now in place. A total of 15 architectural firms from the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and Poland are involved in the project.
The new district Florenc 21 is intended to link Karlín with Prague’s New Town, primarily offering housing, complemented by offices, services, and a hotel. Pedestrian zones and high-quality public spaces are also planned to enhance the surroundings of the Florenc metro station.
“This architectural competition has brought international top-class architecture to Prague. It continues the successful urban planning of 2021 and now connects Karlín, the New Town, and Žižkov into a functional, vibrant urban fabric,” explained Petr Hlaváček, Deputy Mayor for Urban Development.
The competitions for blocks B01 to B05 focused on the western part of the site. The architectural teams had to adhere to specifications regarding block boundaries, street alignments, height limits, and traffic solutions.
Diverse designs from home and abroad
“The teams submitted very different yet coherent proposals that will create a lively new urban structure,” explained David Musil, CEO of Penta Real Estate. The company’s investment is estimated at around 20 billion crowns. Florenc 21 will comprise hundreds of apartments, offices, hotels, retail, and a modern bus station terminal. Construction is scheduled to start in 2028, with completion planned for 2031.
The National Heritage Council also accompanied the competitions, providing guidance on integrating the new buildings into the historic context. “The winning designs largely respect the surroundings and provide a solid basis for further development,” said Jan Holeček from the Heritage Council.
Integration into the city and historic references
The jury emphasised a clear urban structure, appropriate scale, and high-quality ground floors and public spaces. Radomír Nepil, Deputy Mayor of Prague 8, stressed: “Florenc should no longer be a barrier between the districts, but a vibrant, safe place to live.”
The competitions attracted great international interest: of 157 teams from 33 countries, 32 were selected for the second phase, and 16 finalists presented their fully developed concepts to the jury in the autumn.
