Masarycka

The Masaryčka building in #Prague incorporates 7 storeys in its eastern section with 9 storeys at its western end and is defined by circulation routes which will provide access to new civic spaces for the city.

Integrating with Czech Railways’ modernisation of the historic Masaryk Railway Station that is creating a new public plaza partially over the rail tracks, Masaryčka will enhance accessibility to the railway platforms below and provide new pedestrian routes between Florenc and Hybernská on either side of the station.

Bordered by the railway platforms to the south, Na Florenci street to the north, and the Wilsonova elevated freeway to the east, Masaryčka has been constructed on a derelict site that has stood abandoned for several decades. To the west, Masaryčka replaces the existing car park on Havlíčkova Boulevard with a new public square with interchanges between city’s rail, tram and bus networks; defining a welcoming gateway to the city for suburban rail passengers as well as those using the express rail link that is currently under-construction to Prague’s international airport.

Located 1km east of the city centre’s Staroměstské Square, the design establishes a dialogue with the architecture and urbanism of Prague’s Old Town – known as ‘the golden city of 100 spires’. External fins within Masaryčka’s façade contribute to solar shading and transform the project’s horizontal composition to the verticality of its western façade that faces the spires of the Old Town.

A cascade of terraces divides the two buildings with similar terracing on the eastern façade giving every office floor direct access to generous outdoor spaces. Communal roof gardens offer views across the city while Na Florenci street is transformed into a tree-lined avenue.

Targeting LEED Platinum certification, Masaryčka’s design, procurement and construction and has prioritised local suppliers and materials with a high recycled content to meet 2025 targets for embodied & operational carbon established by the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge.

Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects
Design: Zaha Hadid, Patrik Schumacher

Competition
Directing Associate: DaeWha Kang
Project Architect: Jakub Klaska
Project Team: Michal Wojtkiewicz, Malgorzata Kowalczyk, Fernanda Mugnaini, Matthew Carapiet, Bogdan Zaha, Chenxi Gong, Maya Boustany, Jan Klaska, Brian Dale

Concept Refinement - Schematic Design
Project Director: Jim Heverin
Directing Associate: Craig Kiner
Project Architects: Jakub Klaska, Sara Sheikh Akbari
Project Team: Javier Rueda, Jan Klaska, Saman Dadgostar, Yifan Zhang, Moa Carlson, Juan Montiel, Carlos Parrada-Botero, Monika Bilska, Harry Spraiter, Ovidiu Mihutescu, Niran Buyukkoz, Nan Jiang, Horatiu Valcu

Detailed Design
Project Director: Jim Heverin
Project Architect: Jakub Klaska, Victor Orive
Project Team: Harry Spraiter, Javier Rueda, Aiste Dzikaraite, Sven Torres, Muriel Boselli, Maria Touloupou, Thomas Bagnoli

Construction design
Project Director: Jim Heverin
Project Architect: Jakub Klaska
Project Team: Harry Spraiter, Aleksandra Mnich- Spraiter, Devansh Daisaria
Executive Architect: Jakub Cigler Architekti

Masarycka by Zaha Hadid in Czech Republic won the WA Award Cycle 48. Please find below the WA Award poster for this project.