Adjacent to Masaryk Station in Prague, Czech Republic, we can now see the finished project from Zaha Hadid Architects. The skyscraper, with a facade resembling flowing gold, is poised to become a new icon of Prague architecture.
(Text based on the author's description of the studio)
The construction of the Masaryčka skyscraper in Prague has been finalized. The design of the structure includes traffic routes that facilitate movement through the new spaces around Masaryčka Station. The complex with office and retail uses was built to accommodate the continued growth of the city's corporate sector. It has an area of 28,000 square meters and rises seven floors in the eastern part and nine in the western part.
The eastern building of the Masaryčka complex
Photo credit: BoysPlayNice | © Zaha Hadid Architects.
Masaryčka blends history with modernity
Integrated with Czech Railways' ongoing modernization of the historic Masaryčka Station, which includes a new plaza located partially above the railroad tracks, the project will increase accessibility to the platforms below and provide new pedestrian routes between Na Florenci and Hybernská Streets.
Zaha Hadid Architects in tribute to the Golden City
Masaryčka was built on an area that had been abandoned for several decades, between Masaryka Station, Na Florenci Street and the Wilsonova highway. To the west, it replaced the old parking lot on Havlíčkova Boulevard with a new plaza with interchanges between the city's rail, streetcar and bus networks. Thus, the complex has created a friendly gateway to the city for commuter rail passengers, as well as those using the express rail link, currently under construction, to Prague International Airport.
The color of the facade alludes to Prague's reputation as the Golden City
Photo credit: BoysPlayNice | © Zaha Hadid Architects.
Located one kilometer east of Old Town Square, Masaryčka's design establishes a dialogue with the architecture and urban planning of Prague's Old Town, known as the "city of a hundred towers." The exterior ribs of Masaryčka's facade provide shade in summer and transform the project's horizontal composition into a vertical western facade facing the Old Town's spires.
Striped waves on the facade go from horizontal to vertical
Photo credit: BoysPlayNice | © Zaha Hadid Architects
Masaryčka's sustainable architecture
Aiming for LEED Platinum certification, Masaryčka features a double-insulated facade that provides natural light in all office areas and common spaces. The east and west sections are separated by a cascade of terraces. Each floor with offices has direct access to the terraces on the east facade. Rooftop gardens offer panoramic views of the city. Hybrid ventilation is supported by a high-efficiency plant with heat recovery systems, and intelligent building management systems constantly monitor and adjust environmental parameters to reduce energy consumption.
Plantings of local plant species, shrubs and trees are irrigated by a rainwater harvesting system. They have transformed Na Florenci Street into a tree-lined avenue that purifies the neighborhood's air and provides cool shade for passersby. Low-flow systems and gray water recycling further reduce water consumption.
Masaryčka joins the post of the thousand towers of Prague's Old Town
Photo credit: BoysPlayNice | © Zaha Hadid Architects.
The Masaryčka's construction process prioritized local suppliers and recycled materials to meet the 2025 carbon and operational emissions targets set by the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge.
More interchanges at Masaryk Station
Czech Railways plans to complete the renovation of Prague's Masaryk Station by 2026. The plan preserves the historic terminal station building, while providing for the construction of a new plaza to facilitate access to the platforms and provide a direct transfer to Prague's B subway line. Transforming the station into a multi-modal transportation hub for the entire city, the upgrade will expand the current number of tracks from seven to nine and rebuild all platforms, overhead line equipment and power supply.
entrance to the office building
Photo credit: BoysPlayNice | © Zaha Hadid Architects.
