Revitalization of Prague riverfront area

July 1, 2020

petrjanda/brainwork completed the program and the 1st phase of architectural revitalization of the Prague riverfront area that was built as a quay and transshipment point.


The architectural design responds to the context of the place and works with minimal artistic means that allow purging of the existing shapes and relations and finding new interconnection views and possibilities arising from the environment of the embankment. The six vaults on the Rašín Embankment are built following the almost circular arc of the upper part of the existing openings. The design itself is based on a tiny intervention, which takes more than it adds and brings the existing quality back in a contemporary way, creating a unique situation and opportunity. The former stretch metal curtain wall and stone constructions built into the original bridge arches of the riverfront wall were knocked down and replaced with large-format glazed round windows that open by diagonal rotation inside the frame. The entrance portals are designed as atypical steel frames with dilated elliptic glass weighing 1–1.5t. The stone arched linings of the existing portals are completed with stone stepped volumes following the former steps allusion, which hide the installation shaft, air-conditioning vent and anti-flood control elements. The elliptical pivoting windows made of organic glass 7cm thick and 5.5m in diameter weigh approximately 2.5t. Each has a unique shape and, due to their size exceeding the standard glazing, these are probably the largest pivot windows in the world.


During the reconstruction, all built-in elements, including floors, were demolished and built using a method of insertion of the new building into the original space. Flood control reinforced base slabs with pumping sumps were made, water infiltration was repaired and walls were insulated and finished with torcreted concrete on load-bearing reinforcements, consolidating the geometry of rolled vaults. The built-in partitions were concreted as monolithic reinforced concrete ones with inserted installations. The design and materials of the individual elements of the vaults are unified for all types of spaces. The surfaces of the walls and ceilings are designed as sandblasted concrete with a cast concrete floor and a cast monolithic staircase. The hatches and doors are finished with surfaces corresponding to the adjoining surfaces of the walls and floors.


The lighting is designed using light ramps in the public toilets as indirect lighting embedded in a steel wall with light reflection from the ceiling.


Photography by BoysPlayNice

www.petrjanda.com

SHARE THIS

 Contribute

G&G _ Magazine is always looking for the creative talents of stylists, designers, photographers and writers from around the globe.

WRITE US

 Find us on

Latest News

By G&G _ Magazine April 10, 2026
Iñigo Iriarte Interiorismo reimagined a family home for designer and creator Andrés Reisinger as a serene and introspective retreat.
By G&G _ Magazine January 7, 2026
SAOTA introduced Lagoon Villa, an extraordinary architectural residence that seamlessly blends the vibrancy of Abidjan’s cityscape with the serene beauty of the Ébrié Lagoon. With interior design by Claude Missir, the villa epitomises modernist architecture while embracing the natural environment.
By G&G _ Magazine November 25, 2025
With an enviable location for those wishing to explore the city's art and culture, the Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam Hotel is an ode to balanced and functional design, with its aesthetic curated by Spanish interior design studio El Equipo Creativo .
By G&G _ Magazine November 24, 2025
Visiting Casa Batlló means encountering the genius of Antoni Gaudí in his most imaginative and immersive form, where this modernist masterpiece combines creativity, craftsmanship, and multisensory storytelling.
By G&G _ Magazine November 11, 2025
LEI Interior Design has been recognized with the Best Luxury Apartment Interior Design award for Mina Azizi , Palm Jumeirah, in Dubai, UAE. This impressive honor from Luxury Lifestyle Awards reflects a thoughtful and design-led renovation that redefines what modern beachfront living can look and feel like.
By G&G _ Magazine October 28, 2025
Palmira an d GCA Architects unveil a room concept Praise to the Essential , celebrating the authenticity of materials and the elegance of simplicity. In a moment when travelers value emotional well-being and disconnection, the proposal reflects a new approach to Hotel Design, creating spaces that evoke tranquility, sensory experience and genuine comfort.
MORE

 Subscribe

Keep up to date with the latest trends!

Receive a dose of inspiration directly into your mailbox!

 Popular Posts

By G&G _ Magazine March 9, 2026
Between February 6 and March 8, Madrid Design Festival 2026 offered an intense program of exhibitions and events across the city. Throughout these days, it was possible to perceive the evolution of the festival, which expanded its program by integrating professional talks and meetings, revealing a strong desire among industry professionals to share the new Spanish approach to design with the world.
By G&G _ Magazine March 6, 2026
In a world where many hotels rely on polished aesthetics and predictable luxury, Piet Hein Eek offers a radically different vision. One of the most influential Dutch designers of the contemporary scene, Eek has built his reputation on redefining design through reuse, craftsmanship and imperfection. At the heart of this ecosystem lies the Hotel Piet Hein Eek - a project that embodies his philosophy and invites guests to experience design not as a static object, but as a living environment.
By G&G _ Magazine February 24, 2026
From 5 February to mid-March 2026, across three emblematic locations in Madrid — Institución Libre de Enseñanza, Plaza de Colón and FORMA — LOEWE Perfumes presents Crafted Garden , an immersive installation conceived for Madrid Design Festival 2026 . The project unfolds as a sensory journey inspired by Renaissance gardens, bringing together nature, fragrance and contemporary craftsmanship in a multi-layered exploration of design and olfactory culture.