Prague will apply for a zoning decision regarding the surroundings of the Negrelli Viaduct

Prague – The Prague City Hall will apply for a land decision on the modification of the surroundings of the Negrelli Viaduct in Karlín in the first half of this year. Currently, the project preparation for the modifications of public spaces and constructions into the arches is ongoing, where cafés, studios, and so-called start-ups will be established. A committee will select the tenants of the arches. This follows from a document approved by the Prague City Council today. The Railway Administration (SŽ) has previously repaired the viaduct.

"The bridge arches have a very interesting history - they were already boarded up in the early 20th century and were used as garages during the development of motoring. At this moment, I believe they will receive a much more attractive use for the people of Prague," said councilor Jan Chabr (TOP 09).

The arches will be divided into three groups according to their use. For commercial use, 40 percent of them are planned. Tenants will conclude a contract for five years with the option to extend it after two years. The same number of spaces will be designated for so-called creative rentals with a three-year lease. The remaining arches will serve for start-ups, which will receive space for one year.

A ten-member committee will select the tenants. Selection will not be based solely on the highest rent, but also on the nature of the activity. The city company Trade Centre Praha (TCP) will be responsible for management, while the Technical Road Administration (TSK) will handle the restoration of public spaces and constructions into the arches, and the institution Creative Prague will take care of the cultural content. The committee will include representatives from the Prague 8 city hall, where the viaduct is located, and will collaborate with the Viaduct association, which previously organized events here.

The entrances to the spaces under the arches will be glazed. The sandstone arches must be visually controllable at all times and the spaces will not be heated to more than 18.5 degrees Celsius in cooler weather to prevent damage to the sandstone from the temperature difference between the interior and exterior. Greenery will be added in the surrounding area, and a park will be established at the intersection of First Pluk, Pernerova, and Malý streets.

The Negrelli Viaduct is the first railway bridge in Prague across the Vltava River and the second oldest standing bridge in Prague. It connects Masaryk Station across Štvanice Island with Bubny. The 1100-meter-long structure, which was put into operation in early June 1850, is a protected monument. It is named after its builder Alois Negrelli.