Another Prague area unveils transformation plans, creating thousands of new homes

A new project in Prague 9 is set to transform part of the district, giving it a brand new look while housing thousands of people and creating jobs in the area.

Housing developer Corwin revealed additional plans last week about its reconstruction of five hectares of former industrial land near the Prague-Libeň train station. The redevelopment will replace a cluster of aging factory buildings with over 1,000 apartments built with courtyards, mid-rise housing, offices, civic amenities, a kindergarten, and a pharmacy.

The project, called Dvory Vysočany, draws on traditional Prague block structures found in districts like Vinohrady and Karlín, according to business news site Hospodářské noviny. Buildings throughout the district will differ in color and materials, and courtyards will remain publicly accessible rather than restricted to residents.

The first phase, comprising 229 units, is scheduled for completion as early as 2029. Apartment prices will range from CZK 5.6 million for a studio to CZK 13.8 million for a four-room flat. The first part of the project is slated to have around 6,000 meters of office space and 1,400 square meters for shops and services. 

Industrial traces on the site are set to remain part of the neighborhood’s identity. A former roasting plant is slated for renovation and could become a market. The structure will require extensive rebuilding due to long-term vibration damage from nearby rail lines, according to the developers. 

Architect Štěpán Valouch said the roasting plant “will basically be rebuilt” but continues to offer the area’s largest commercial space. A tall brick chimney will also be preserved as a visual landmark around which a small square is planned.

The district is being conceived for a wide span of users, described by Dobrý as being guided by the “eight to 80” principle; an urban-design guideline stating that a city or neighborhood should be comfortable, safe, and functional for people aged eight to 80.

The Prague 9 project is one of several wide-scale developments that are set to transform local neighborhoods around the Czech capital in the 2020s and 2030s.

The old Žižkov freight station will, towards the end of the decade, become “Žižkov City,” a new district set to contain over 3,000 apartments. Rohan City (Prague 8) and Smíchov City (Prague 5) are other long-term projects set to house over 20,000 new apartments collectively.