The construction at the site of the former Chemapol will be designed by Schindler Seko architects

Prague – The construction that will replace the former Chemapol building in Vršovice, Prague 10, will be designed by the architectural studio Schindler Seko architects. They won an architectural competition organized by the development company Daramis in collaboration with the capital city and Prague 10. This was announced today in a press release by Vít Hofman, a spokesman for the Prague City Hall.

The new primarily residential development on Kodaňská Street in Vršovice will offer housing, shops and services, a kindergarten, a city building, and new public spaces. Sixty-five teams from the Czech Republic and abroad entered the competition, from which the jury selected 11 finalists and subsequently five winners. According to Hofman, the jury appreciated the clear urban concept of the winning design, which consisted of a pair of blocks, a standalone kindergarten, and a city house, developed in collaboration with landscape architects from Atelier Rouge and the transportation consultancy European Transportation Consultancy.

"Kodaňská is an example of how collaboration between the city and a private investor, along with a well-prepared architectural competition, can contribute to the transformation of significant areas. It is important for Prague that new construction does not arise as an isolated project, but naturally complements the existing urban structure, creates quality public space, and provides civic amenities,” stated Deputy Mayor Petr Hlaváček (STAN).

The former building of the foreign trade enterprises Chemapol and Investa in Vršovice was built between 1966 and 1970 according to the design of architects Zdenka Marie Nováková and Dagmar Šestáková. Today it is known as Kodaňská 4D Center. The characteristic rainbow coating was applied to the building about 20 years ago. In the past, there were efforts to declare the building a cultural monument, but these were unsuccessful at the Ministry of Culture. Previously, the intent to demolish the building was protested by the Club for Old Prague, which claimed it to be one of the most important examples of Czechoslovak architecture from the 1960s.