Multifunctional hall at Forum Karlín - another Prague project by Ricardo Bofill

Ricardo Bofill – a world architect who understands the industrial soul of Karlín
Karlín, as a former suburban industrial district, still offers attractive opportunities to transform old industrial sites into modern administrative and cultural centers. If the investor collaborates with an architect of such caliber as Ricardo Bofill, the result is contemporary and functional architecture that holds its own against similar projects worldwide.
Ricardo Bofill, one of the leading figures of architectural postmodernism, has an understanding of industrial buildings and their modernization, as evidenced by the fact that he converted an old cement plant into his studio. The author also stands out for his strong urban sensibility and emphasis on ensuring that the building corresponds with its natural surroundings. In Karlín, he has already worked on the Corso complex, so while working on Forum Karlín, he could build upon a well-known environment.

Forum Karlín and the multifunctional hall
This administrative and social project was created on the site of a former boiler house from 1908. Now there stands a multifunctional hall with a capacity of 3,000 seats and the most modern facilities for all types of cultural, social, and educational events. The reconstructed part houses the publisher Economia, and another part of the project is an eight-story new building, comprising 9,500 m² of modern office space.
The architectural project aimed to maximize usable space without making the eight-story building disruptive in the context of the surrounding buildings. Therefore, the southern and western façades rise to eight stories, while the roof line cascades downwards towards the north and east. This brings the structure closer to the mass of the surrounding residential buildings in Karlín, creating attractive outdoor terraces.
Between the two buildings, there is a covered courtyard, and visitors enter the multifunctional hall from the glass atrium, which combines wooden floors and white plastered walls.

Light façade and rigging suspension system
From the outside, the number of stories is not apparent at first glance. The façade is double-skinned; inside, there is a standard façade, a small space for LED lighting, and outside, panels made of U-glass that create the outer suspended wall. Thanks to the LED lighting, the façade changes colors in relation to the cultural program and ongoing events. During the day, the lighting is turned off. The evening scenic lighting effect emphasizes the social and cultural function, which differs from the daily, particularly administrative function, creating a new perspective on the building and altering the overall atmosphere.

Acoustics as a fundamental prerequisite for success
The acoustic solution of the hall also allows for live recordings of musical performances. The project authors placed great emphasis on the selection of appropriate building materials as well as on the details of the acoustic elements and sound installation.
The general contractor of the construction, the company Průmstav, decided to use Silka aerated concrete blocks based on its experience instead of the originally planned concrete formwork. The reason was the exceptional sound insulation parameters of these blocks, which meet very strict acoustic requirements. Other advantages include ease of handling on site due to their dimensions, which also speeds up and reduces the cost of construction. Among the professional services that the material manufacturer provides are technical consulting during both the preparatory phase and the actual construction. Another opportunity for the white aerated concrete arose during the construction of partition walls as cladding to the monolithic structure, through which the wiring for electricity, water, and waste is routed. Due to its ease of processing, this solution has become very popular in other projects by Průmstav.

This hall is therefore a highly versatile and modern space for hosting activities at the highest level of aesthetic and artistic impression.

Multifunctional Hall Forum Karlín
Chronology: 2012
Volume: 550,000,000 CZK
Area: 9,000 m²

Authors: Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura and AED project, a.s.
Investor: North-Line, a.s.
Project: AED project, ATELIER 8000
Implementation: PRŮMSTAV, a. s.