Ahead of the curve: Construction completed on Zaha Hadid buildings in Prague

Development company Penta Real Estate ceremonially unveiled the golden facade of two fully completed large buildings near Prague’s Masaryk rail station on Monday. The buildings designed by the Zaha Hadid studio (eponymously named after the late British architect), will mainly be used for office space, but will also contain restaurants, cafes, and various services.

Dubbed the Masaryčka project, the newly unveiled structures – consisting of nine floors each and occupying 28,000 square meters – are already 95 percent occupied. Construction began in March 2021 and cost a total CZK 2.5 billion to complete. The finish date had originally been the second quarter of this year, but Covid-19 pushed work back.

iStyle, a premium partner and reseller of the Apple tech company, will open a store in one of the buildings on Tuesday, Oct. 31.

Looking ahead, Penta Real Estate intends to invest further funds in the planned re-roofing of Masaryk railway station. The construction is expected to commence by the end of March 2024 and is estimated to take over two years to complete. 

Broader plans for the area include a new public square being constructed at the intersection of Havlíčkova and Na Florenci streets, where the entrances to the Masaryk rail station are located. Residential apartments and a hotel are also slated to be built as part of this redevelopment initiative to transform the area.

Penta Real Estate executive director Petr Palička said that Na Florenci Street is set to expand significantly: “Instead of a parking lot at its end, a small square with modern entrances to the metro, new furniture, and green relaxation zones will be created in front of Masaryk station,” he noted.

Hadid, on whose architectural style the buildings are based, is sometimes called “the queen of the curve” for her signature type of modern architecture.  

In related news, Penta Real Estate recently acquired ČSAD Praha Holding, the owner of the Florenc bus station and the adjacent land, meaning that work will likely start soon. The company is also eagerly awaiting potential developments in the area surrounding Florenc.

It’s hoped that the revitalization of the area will benefit the area’s economy, aesthetic, and business.