The fourteen-storey office building, offering a total of 13,650 m² of leasable space, occupies one of the most prestigious addresses in Prague, located in the highly sought-after district of Vinohrady. The urban context of the site is particularly distinctive. On the southern side, Vinohradská Street is defined by a continuous block structure of traditional residential buildings maintaining a uniform cornice height, while the opposite side of the street opens towards the gently sloping green landscape of the Olšany Cemeteries.

Originally, the perimeter block structure terminated at a small, unresolved square, behind which stands a prominent high-rise landmark. In its strict urbanistic sense, the project addresses the completion of this square by introducing a third – and final – façade that defines the space.

The massing of the building is conceived as an intermediate height element between the surrounding structures bordering the square. Its form strictly derives from the surrounding urban fabric and carefully respects the neighbouring buildings. The parapet line follows the heights and geometry of the adjacent structures, while the upper part of the volume is shaped to ensure that daylight access and solar exposure within the newly created courtyard are not compromised. During the design process, a series of physical working models with varying heights and forms were developed and continuously presented to both the client and local authorities. The final proposal proved to be the most appropriate solution for the site.

Equally important is the architectural expression of the building mass. Although designed with practical and functional considerations in mind, the form reflects contemporary aesthetics and introduces a new architectural layer to the location. The façade design supports the concept of a shimmering crystalline object. It is based on a rectangular façade grid in which clear-glazed windows alternate regularly with projecting aluminium panels concealing external blind boxes. This checkerboard pattern of projecting panels is also applied to the roof surface, ensuring a unified appearance across all visually exposed areas.

The design of the entrance, referred to as the “cave,” stems from the intention to visually lighten the building mass, activate the ground level and emphasize the main corner entrance.

The functional programme allocates the ground floor to the entrance lobby and retail spaces. Four underground levels accommodate parking, storage facilities and technical infrastructure. The remaining upper floors are dedicated exclusively to office use. Vertical circulation within the building is ensured by two staircases and four elevators. The generous office floor plates allow for both open-plan and cellular office layouts, in both cases with natural ventilation.

“Strict mass modelling using mathematical daylight and solar analysis, resulting in an exclusive crystalline architectural form.”