Venesus Caeli

Project idea

A new city hall building on Prague's Old Town Square with an elliptical plan inspired by the organic curve of a potato chip, featuring a green vegetative roof that integrates the modern structure into the historic urban context.

Project description

The proposed city hall building is located on Staroměstské náměstí (Old Town Square) in Prague. The elliptical-shaped building has main axes of 70 m and 30 m, with two full floors and a third recessed floor covered by a sloped roof. The roof is designed as a green vegetative roof that contributes to improving the microclimate and integrating the building into its surroundings. The building mass is complemented by triangular park areas that expand greenery on the square and create pleasant public space. Functionally, the ground floor contains a café open to the public square space, the second floor is dedicated to offices and administrative facilities of the city hall, and the third floor houses additional offices along with a publicly accessible observation deck offering panoramic views of Prague's historic center.

Technical information

The load-bearing structure consists of a reinforced concrete skeletal system. The facade envelope is designed with large-format glazing and stone facade panels that connect modern architecture with the historical character of the surrounding development. The roof is designed as an extensive green roof with a vegetation layer supporting rainwater retention and improving the thermal stability of the building.

Documentation

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