2002 Nový Smíchov Shopping Centre

The Nový Smíchov cultural and shopping centre was created on the site of the former Tatra works. When we came to the project, the “Tatrovka” was still standing, and we proposed retaining a large part of it, including its two chimneys. Nonetheless, the investor argued that the ground was contaminated and insisted on demolition, which finally took place. So we tried to build a gigantic structure that would damage the city the least. It does not face the surrounding streets with a single huge volume; we tried to connect it to the city through using a variety of materials, volumes and facade scales according to the character of each street. We placed a single large arcade through the building, which follows the street grid, and attached to it a footbridge from the hill of Sacré-Coeur, until then cut off from the city. As the counterbalance to the hill, we created a large grass-covered roof, unique in having a pitch of 58 degrees. We also planned a terrace with a pavilion containing a garden restaurant, but it has never been realised. At first, there were supposed to be flats inside the complex, along with the shops, hypermarket and cinema; we designed two floors of apartments on the roof. Nový Smíchov was the first true city shopping mall to go up in Prague, and it didn’t, as some predicted, damage the cityscape nearby. Many of the smaller shops have closed, but they have been replaced by services, cafes and restaurants, making the area even more lively. Unfortunately, we had no influence on the final treatement of the interior. Responsibility for the decorations inside is held by French architects invited by the client.