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MASARYKA BUILDING, PRAGUE
UNEVEN KEEL
The fins which form the facade splay at the western elevation to form a pointed, offset ‘keel’ at the base, which continues into the entrance space
The ribbed metal facade of the new building offers the practicality of summer shading to internal workspace along the elevations, alleviating cooling bills but sculpted to provide a major architectural presence
“establish a dialogue with the architecture and urbanism of Prague’s Old Town,” which sits on the other side of the river to the west. Conceived by Zaha herself, the project was realised in collaboration with local practice Jakub Cigler Architekti as delivery architect. The long and relatively low structure has the kinetic, offset feel common to several of Zaha Hadid’s buildings when viewed in section, with dynamic elevations created by stepping back individual levels horizontally from east to west. The two volumes, connected by the ground level retail level and external circulation, step up from the east from seven storeys to nine respectively, deferring to surrounding building heights. The renowned “golden city of 100
spires,” has a much-photographed skyline created by the preponderance of ornate pointed steeples and spires extending into the sky. The ribbed metal facade of the new building offers the practicality of summer shading to internal workspace along the elevations, alleviating cooling bills but sculpted to provide a major architectural presence. The facade’s ribs
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curve dramatically at 90° towards the pointed, taller western facade facing the Old Town’s spires, both responding to the historic skyline but also giving an abstract impression of railway tracks. The fins splay to form a gently pointed offset ‘keel’ at the base of the west facade, lightly connecting the building to the ground visually, with the ground and first levels otherwise glazed for the retail and F&B units. The keel also extends into the building forming part of the entrance area’s ceiling. As the aluminium elements widen to the lower level the feeling of rails is transformed to the more substantial language of the timbers of a golden ship. Addressing the new square, the statement made by this elevation is appropriately striking. There are roof gardens on the top two floors on each of the linked buildings, as well as a “cascade” of articulated terraces to each of the facades facing the gap between the two buildings, and further recessed terraces to the long long north facades facing the street, angled to align with the parallelogram forms.
ADF OCTOBER 2024
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