The exhibition showcases architects competing for the Žižkov railway station

Prague - From today, the Dutch office Benthem Crouwel Architects presents its guides on transport infrastructure, renovations, reconstructions, and new constructions of airport terminals, train stations, and underground railways at the Jaroslav Fragner Gallery. Just as its often futuristic buildings have influenced the face of The Hague, Utrecht, or Rotterdam, architects from the studio could also impact the appearance of one of the developing parts of the former Prague periphery. They have advanced to the second round of the urban planning competition for the Residence Nádraží Žižkov.

There is currently a construction freeze on the site of the freight station. Companies such as Central Group and Penta Investment plan to build on the land there. According to a study, the area could accommodate up to 15,000 residents and includes a tram line running through the area and a new Jarovská connection for road traffic. Prague is negotiating with Czech Railways regarding the takeover of the station building. A change in the zoning plan is planned for the area due to potential future developments in the summer. Representatives of the city’s Institute of Planning and Development (IPR), which prepared the study serving as a basis for the change, stated on April 8 that the change could be completed in 2020.

A day later, Penta published the results of the first round of the aforementioned competition, in which five out of 44 proposals were advanced. The results are expected to be announced on June 12. The director of the Jaroslav Fragner Gallery, Dan Merta, is a member of the competition jury alongside architect Zdeněk Fránek, representatives from Penta Marek Dospiva and Petr Palička, representatives from the firm SUDOP, and Czech Railways.

The area around the former station covers approximately 33 hectares. The fate of the First Republic functionalist station building, which ceased operating in 2002, has been under discussion for years. It was originally intended to make way for construction, but due to pressure from activists, the demolition was canceled. Since 2013, the building has been protected as a historical monument.

The previous leadership of Prague approved the purchase of the property from Czech Railways for 662 million crowns, with reconstruction costs estimated between 1.5 and 2.5 billion crowns. The city council wants to reach an agreement with private entities or the Ministry of Culture for joint use in such a way that the city does not have to pay for the reconstruction itself.

According to the IPR study, which serves as a basis for the change in the zoning plan, the station building is to be the center of the area. It is to be surrounded by residential construction with four to six above-ground floors. A new tram line from Jana Želivského is planned to run through the center of the area. The design also includes a two-lane road that should connect the station with Českobrodská Street.

Benthem Crouwel Architects have been creating building designs for more than three decades, ranging from public buildings to infrastructure projects and urban land use plans. Some of their proposals are subdued, such as the extension of the Anne Frank House, while others are striking, including the renovation and expansion of the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.