Little Copenhagen in Prague
Residential blocks will be built on the right side of Žižkov Railway Station and will be the flagship of the Sekyra Group’s Žižkov City development. 86,000 m2 of gross floor area located in a compact urban development. In a small competition team, we designed a mass solution, corner high-rise accents, a rational division of the SVJ section, and an active parterre that enlivens street life within a month.
We sensitively expanded and calmed the space between the blocks and added front gardens with access to the ground floor apartments. The result is a residential street with a Scandinavian atmosphere, serving as a social hub. The street has become a link between two green semi-private inner blocks. These green oases contribute to effective rainwater retention and improve the microclimate of the entire neighborhood.
Take a pen, not a mouse
Once the form and the required flatmix were ready, three days of intense work, brainstorming, and creativity ensued. The goal was clear: to design facades for individual apartment sections and modify the form to give it a human scale. Fourteen colleagues kicked off our first Perspektiv Hackathon. How would you start? Some took pens and paper, others opened AutoCAD, scrolled through the internet, explored the site, and looked for contextual inspiration.
It was interesting to watch how everyone enthusiastically and energetically, and above all diversely, set about designing. We made our joint discussions and moments of reflection more enjoyable with a selection of delicious, renowned cakes. Something sweet was needed.
The ability to explain your concept
And here we are! It’s time to evaluate this 300-hour investment. Our four-member jury settled comfortably in the arkhe showroom and watched the presentations of the designs closely. Adam’s tower and neck caught the jury’s attention the most. Except for a few minor flaws in the layout, they recommended that this red gem be refined to perfection. We will refresh the second, smaller tower with arched windows and striking verticality according to Dora’s design. We will assemble the central facades based on the design principles of Oksana, Tomáš, Samuel, and Matyáš. Oksana presented a simple yet very elegant and contemporary Prague house. Tomáš caught our attention with his system of sliding shading elements and his work with texture. Samuel demonstrated a strong sense of composition and the use of balconies, which create both views and privacy. Matyáš caught our attention with his idea of setting the facade in motion with waves. We would like to apply this principle to the rear facade facing the courtyard.
The jury selected the principles so that each part of the house would be specific, but it will be a challenge to harmonize the facades so that they match each other. The jury was disappointed to see that the grid was used as the most prominent facade element and that many facades looked similar. On the other hand, the jury was pleasantly surprised by the innovative approach, such as ceramics, sloping roofs, color palette, and the plasticity of the facade.
Sprint !
But that was far from the end. The winning designs served as the conceptual basis for creating the final appearance of the facades. We created a new team of people who took on this challenging task. The trio of architects grappled with the design details that make an idea a masterpiece. The deadline was approaching, and we were finishing the floor plans, sections, diagrams, and presentation panels. We needed to connect the 3D model through Revit, SketchUp, and Rhino. Steam was coming off the computers and our heads. We did it. Finally, beautiful visualizations landed on Slack, and everything fell into place.
Anyone from our studio who wanted to immerse themselves in design, sketching, and modeling could participate in the Hackathon. When architecture, speed, and competitive spirit come together, ideas that push boundaries are born. We were thrilled by the diversity of solutions and the courage of the participants. Thank you to everyone who took part, and we look forward to next year! Join us and convince us that your design is the best!
