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MASARYKA BUILDING, PRAGUE
well as providing new pedestrian routes on either side of the station.
The existing 1845-built terminus building refurbishment includes the construction of the new public square partially over the tracks, giving access to individual platforms and a direct transfer to Prague’s metro line. This is turning the station into a fully accessible, “multi-modal transport hub,” extending the number of rail tracks from seven to nine and seeing all platforms reconstructed. There will also be pedestrian access to the train platforms via the gap in the centre of the new buildings The elevated park above the railway station will significantly simplify the connection between the Prague 1, Prague 3 and Prague 8 districts. The roof gardens’ design “reflects the city’s flow of people between Na Florenci Street, Hybernská Street and the U Bulhara intersection,” say the architects, who have provided a beautiful, fully-landscaped public space. It combines pavements and piazzas with zones for relaxation and social use, and has “the comfort of people with different levels of mobility in mind.”
A hotel currently under construction on the busy intersection to the south east corner of the site, on the far side of the railway line, will be connected to Masaryčka via a new covered, landscaped route above the tracks, providing a further important new access across the site.
Conclusion
This is one of the last projects which Zaha Hadid herself worked on, and will be the flagship for a client who is keen to celebrate the personal involvement of the now-legendary architect. The two buildings-in-one, running alongside the railway lines, are a major new addition in a city famous for architecture of yesteryear, and a brave new image for many arriving by train.
The new mixed use Masaryka building is well on the way to its full completion in 2026, and already has a series of commercial tenants for its workspaces in addition to the client itself. Cafes and other retail units are bringing activity and further connection to the street level, enhancing the buzz already present from the station’s pedestrian traffic. This mix, with the golden backdrop and new public realm, ensures that the new addition is playing a full part in the life of the historic city. g
WWW.ARCHITECTSDATAFILE.CO.UK ADF OCTOBER 2024
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