Four finalists chosen in architectural contest to redevelop the area around Budějovická metro station

The jury of an international architectural competition has selected four finalists who will continue developing designs for redeveloping the area around the Budějovická metro station in Prague. Of the eight Czech and international teams that submitted concepts, the finalists are A8000 (Czech Republic), Amonik + Masson & Associés (France), Howells (United Kingdom) and UNIT architekti (Czech Republic).

"The submitted concepts demonstrated a high level of quality while offering very different visions for the future of Budějovická. Choosing four finalists was no easy task. The jury discussed the projects at length and selected the solutions with the greatest potential for further development," said jury chairman Štěpán Bennisch.

A new neighbourhood in place of a transport and shopping hub

The competition concerns an area of roughly 40,000 square metres around the metro station. The plan envisions the space gradually transforming into a new city district dominated by residential development, complemented by services and high-quality public spaces. Construction is expected to begin in 2029.

Prague 4 Mayor Ondřej Kubín (ODS) noted that the district was actively involved from the outset in drafting the competition brief and insisted that it address not only new buildings but also the overall functioning of the area — quality public spaces, safe and convenient pedestrian movement, greenery, microclimate and social infrastructure.

The competition brief places particular emphasis on clear, high-quality public spaces, improved pedestrian connections and access to the metro, transport, greenery and rainwater management, safety around the Poláčkova primary school, as well as proposals for housing, shops and services. The new development will be predominantly residential.

High-rises and the fate of the DBK shopping centre

A separate point of the competition was to examine the feasibility of high-rise development and how it would fit into the surrounding urban fabric and Prague's skyline. According to the brief, the existing DBK shopping centre should be "sensitively integrated into the area's new appearance."

Deputy Mayor of Prague for territorial and strategic development Petr Hlaváček (STAN) stressed that Budějovická is one of the few metro-linked sites in Prague earmarked for redevelopment, making it especially important to consider how the new development connects with its surroundings, its impact on the city's skyline, the quality of public spaces, and good access to the metro.

Penta Real Estate's Executive Director Rudolf Vacek noted that today Budějovická functions mainly as a transport and shopping hub, where people change transport and go shopping. "We want to turn it into a real piece of the city — a place where people live, work and spend their free time," he said, adding that the interest shown by leading European urban planners and architects confirms the site's exceptional potential.

What comes next

The selected teams will now refine their concepts based on the jury's recommendations. In the second stage, they will develop a more detailed urban design for the entire area, covering public spaces, transport and greenery, as well as the architectural design for the first phase of development.

According to Vacek, the winning design from the first phase will form the basis for further project preparation, while the second-phase concept will serve as the foundation for further negotiations between the city hall, the municipal district and landowners on the coordinated long-term development of the area around Budějovická.

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Source: prazskypatriot.cz