In recent years, Ostrava has proven that the issue of quality architecture is essential for the city, and many projects bear prominent architect’s distinguished style. The city is developing in a unique way thanks to renown architects’ skills and visions. The same goes for today, when the city applies high standards in many currently prepared projects.

This is, for instance, documented by the thirty interested parties from various countries who responded to the announcement of the architectural competition for the design of Nové Bazaly. Other competitions that are currently in progress include the urban competition for the design of the entire new district of Žofinka situated in a brownfield site as well as the preparation of the competition for the conceptual design of the World of Transport and others.

The benefit of architectural competitions 

The implemented architectural competitions bestow the city with an entire spectrum of urban or architectural designs and provide it with optimal solutions for buildings, revitalization of public spaces, squares, streets and cultivation of parks. The benefit of architectural competitions is to obtain original and at the same time specific solutions for the proposed buildings, areas. In cooperation with professionals, the investor can, thanks to the architectural competitions, find various solutions for buildings that are elaborated to the smallest detail. The result of competitions is not only an exceptional building in design. What is also taken into account are economic aspects with sustainability, economy, rainwater management, specification of the stages of the project implementation and future operation of the building playing an important role. A high-quality architectural design can reduce any possible changes that might occur during the construction process and with them associated additional work, which in turn brings savings. “Some competitions also allow for public participation, which can be involved in the city plans when revitalizing public spaces. The transparency of the process is insignificant, architectural competitions are competitions that comply with the Public Procurement Act. Independent experts are involved in the process of preparing the competition and selecting the best design. We perceive high-quality architecture the alpha and omega of the buildings being prepared, we continue to develop the city and are preparing a number of beneficial buildings,” explains Lucie Baránková Vilamová, Deputy Mayor for Strategic City Development. 

New projects will enrich the city 

The status of the city’s flagship project, the architectural competition for the design of the Nové Bazaly football stadium, is being described by the city mayor, Jan Dohnal: “The current architectural competition for the design of the Nové Bazaly football stadium is deservedly attracting the attention of both the public and architects from all over the world. Participating in the competition captured attention of 30 studios or their associations, and the jury recommended six more to the four originally invited participants. The relevant administrative process is now in progress, after which the city council will decide on the next step. Our goal is a functionally and operationally, but also architecturally exceptional building for Nové Bazaly, which will bestow the city with many benefits. The building will become a new dominant feature of Ostrava, which makes the appropriate integration into the existing urban space in the context of the nearby national cultural monument of the New Town Hall and the history of the place a key factor. We are therefore pleased with the interest of renowned architects from across the world.”

And the optimal urban design solution for the new Ostrava district of Žofinka and its integration into the existing area between Nová Karolina and the Lower Vítkovice area is now being addressed by another urban planning and architectural competition organized by Pod Žofinkou Holding in cooperation with the city of Ostrava. The development of the Žofinka area is one of the strategic priorities of the city of Ostrava. The competition will follow up the changes in the zoning plan, which will anchor the backbone communication system in the area and establish basic building regulations. “A competition workshop was held in the middle of January at the New Town Hall, where seven competition teams presented their concept for the development of the Žofinka area. The jury then selected, for the second phase, competition teams that will finalize their proposals; three teams will compete in the final of the competition. The jury will then select the winner in April,” specifies Lucie Baránková Vilamová, Deputy Mayor for Strategic City Development. Further information about the competition is available at www.zofinka.cz.

Following preparations by the Municipal Studio of Spatial Planning and Architecture, another architectural competition announced last August was the competition for the design of the House of Municipal Services, a new administrative building for two municipal departments and several municipal organizations in Černá louka. The first phase of the open two-phase competition received 21 proposals, which were evaluated by the competition jury in February. The results of the competition should be known during the summer. Further information about the competition is available at www.mappaostrava.cz/projekt/dum-mestskych-sluzeb-soutez/. 

Another competition that is being intensively prepared is the competition for the conceptual design of the World of Transport. It is conceived as an open competition; however, it is expected that the organizers will address selected studios, creative parties or designers that are dedicated to transforming exhibitions and museums into dynamic, interactive and lively expositions. The upcoming competition will be an open single-round competition with a two-phase evaluation system. 

One more competition that is being prepared is an urban planning competition for the area around the Ostrava Stodolní railway station and the extended Místecká Road, which also includes the area of ​the Tatran hall, the former Bauhaus hobby market and an adjacent car park. It is a location with an area of approximately 70,000 sq m. The competition is being prepared by the Municipal Studio of Spatial Planning and Architecture to be announced this March.

Photo: Ostrava City Archive 

ELK is returning to the Czech Republic after several years with their all-embracing portfolio, i.e. with the sale of premium residential or commercial timber-framed buildings. ELK is returning at full strength and wants to become a preferred partner for architects and project designers.

Miroslav Veselý, MBA, ELK manager in the Czech Republic, has been working with the company since last year and participates in their re-entry into the Czech market. He has many years of management experience from various fields. He has worked in healthcare, pharmacy, power engineering, real estate and food industry, and worked for Bosch Siemens for almost 11 years. He was usually sent where no one wanted to go, or where something needed to be built from scratch. In the last three years, he has been dedicated to sustainable construction and timber-framed buildings in the subcontracting sector. M. Veselý informed Development News of some of the aspects of ELK’s return to the Czech market and the company’s philosophy.

You and your team have been preparing ELK’s return for almost a year. But the company has been operating in the Czech Republic for a long time. So, what can one imagine under the ELK is BACK slogan?

ELK has been here since the end of 1989, when the moose logo was placed on a tall chimney in Planá nad Lužnicí. The production of houses and windows has gradually been turned into the production of mainly wood-aluminium windows. We produce them for ourselves, but 70% of production goes to the construction market. ELK windows are in many places – even the end consumer can buy windows for their property directly from us in Planá. But now we are coming at full strength of ELK KAMPA Group.  

ELK is returning to our market with 65 years of experience, so it is far from being a beginner…  

Yes, we are convinced that the time when things can be communicated has come. Market acceptance is at such a level that it makes sense to launch long-term projects and invest capacities, money and other resources in it. In the long term, we believe that the curve of timber-framed buildings will rise. At the same time, it is our duty to continue spreading awareness, and we certainly want to do this actively. ‘Return to the wooden age’, is actually a nice term (Thanks, Tomáš!) considering the fact that the 20th century was the age of bricks, concrete and other materials. The advent of wood and prefabrication could actually be referred to as another industrial revolution, with a bit of exaggeration. In America, almost everything is built on a wood foundation, in Scandinavia over 60% of residential buildings are made of wood. Why? There was always plenty of wood there and it was a natural building material that grew and renewed itself. So, they took advantage of it and it worked. In Japan, almost all buildings – with the exception of skyscrapers – are timber-framed buildings. As for Europe, it does, in a way, represent a return, for in the Czech Republic, the share of timber-framed buildings in residential housing is about 15% and is growing slightly. In Germany, it is about 20% and in Austria, perhaps a third. Don’t worry, forests grow back much faster than the wood is logged out of them. 

Why did you decide to return now, when timber-framed buildings are dynamically gaining ground in the domestic market and when quite a few companies are operating within this field?  

I think that now is the best possible time, because the term of timber-framed buildings, whether residential or commercial, no longer sound foul. People accept them very well. The share of family houses as timber-framed buildings is increasing, and so are the commercial ones. People can feel that it is working. We are also recovering from the construction crisis that has been troubling Europe for three years. The numbers are rising, and that is why we are convinced that our concept belongs in the Czech Republic and that it has its customers there. We are aware of the strong competitive environment with full respect for everyone else in the market.   

Why do you think you have a chance to succeed? How do you differ from the competition?  

When you build something, it costs money that you either earned or borrowed. As a customer, you are looking for something that you would like and that is within your budget. Then you want to be sure that you have chosen the right partner who can do it well, on time and at the agreed price. At ELK, we have over 65 years of experience in the construction of family houses – small, large, high, flat – we have already built over 45,000 of them. For quite some time, we have been the market leader in Austria. Our position in Germany is also strengthening and this goes both for the ELK brand and the KAMPA brand (more than 100 years in the German market). That is why I think that we are also ready to satisfy demanding as well as the most demanding customers in the Czech Republic. 

The markets in individual European countries are somewhat different. What type of customers will you address in the Czech Republic? 

We want to focus on more demanding clients who are looking for premium housing, an experienced partner and also a European brand. Clients who don’t just want to build a house, a timber-framed building, but clients who want to have an experienced partner. Architects have always loved concrete, bricks, glass and conventional materials. Now they are starting to love wood too. We have such a demand from architects who want to cooperate with us that we had to create the ELK TIMBER ACADEMY platform, where we introduce architects and designers to the rules of the ELK construction system, teach them wall layers, statics and other associated issues so that they can work better and faster with our system, which will be appreciated mainly by investors. We see architects as contract bearers, and therefore we want to make it as simple as possible for them and thus we treat them as if they were the end clients. Everything we do for them is done to suit, from A to Z, worry-free construction, everything being from a single source – and that is what ELK is about. While respecting all the basic rules, we are able to manufacture and build almost everything for architects. Anyway, we also teach them to apply prefabrication as much as possible in their projects, i.e. quickly, cost-effectively, but without losing the architect’s distinguished style, ideas and architecture as such. Simply win-win-win situation.

What is your customer like then?

Our customer does not want to worry about the construction, he does not have the time for it, he has his own job, his own business, he only wants to have one partner with whom he can conclude one single contract. Three quarters of all our houses are delivered on a turnkey basis. That is, not only the core and shell construction, but also the heating with all its wiring, floors, floor tiles, wall tiles, bathroom furniture, sanitary ware, fittings or interior doors based on the customer’s choice. If the customer wishes so, the construction can also be delivered with an individual kitchen. At the end of each calculation, we draw a thick line, add everything up and the resulting price is fixed and valid for 12 months. So, come what may, it comes to us. Anyone who works in the construction industry or has had offers prepared in the last three years knows that the fixed price has basically disappeared. We are able to provide it thanks to our system of production, assembly, prefabrication as well as the size of the company. You don’t have to worry about anything. ELK knows how to organize it. We are quite a large company, so if, for instance, three of our floor installers get sick, we can handle it. Sorglos bauen, i.e. worry-free building – that’s ELK. 

How do you proceed when clients come to you with their own idea?

The beginning is always the same. I ask a question, if I can ask – and if so, I start asking, because we need to understand the customer. How he has lived up to now, what has or hasn’t suited him, what he misses and how he wants to live in his new house. What the house should look like, how many people are to live in it, what their interests are, how much space is needed for sports equipment, pets, visitors, etc. And of course, what the budget is, what the land looks like, whether it is situated on a flat surface or in a slope – these are the things to start with. With some of the customers, here it will be some 50%, we will start discussing the size of the house, whether it is a single-storey or with an upper floor. We will be able to proceed from something that ELK knows, of which it has already built a lot, but it is not entirely a catalogue design. We will take a house of, for instance, 145 sq m and start asking whether there should be a lot of light in the living room, so the windows will go all the way to the floor, if the client likes to cook, so we will enlarge the kitchen… Actually, there are no two standard houses that would be the same, there are always minor differences. ELK is not bothered by this, but on the contrary, we enjoy it. There are construction companies where any deviation from the standard is considered a problem.

Does it mean that you encourage your customers to tell you how specifically it could work? 

 

Exactly. But the role of the architect is not lost because the other half of the clients knows exactly what they want. Or at least they have ideas about the size, shape, type of roof. Let’s say they are more informed and very often come to us with some architectural design or at least a concept of how it might look within the plot. There is no customer who would not show us inspiration from social networks. And that is a great job because we sit at the same table with the client and his architect and we all have the same goal. In the end, we have a satisfied customer who is happy to have a house in which he will live for several decades. The architect’s role is to make the house look nice and fit the plot. Our role is to make it possible to manufacture the house, to have the right dimensions, and ideally be as prefabricated as possible, which affects the price as such. ELK will arrange a building permit, manufacture the house, assemble it, supervise compliance with the schedule, arrange the final building approval, but will also help clients with recommendations for swimming pools, fences, etc. We are also able to organize construction work around the house. Coordinating a biotope, greenhouse, pergola and other things also represents a lot of work. Our client pays ELK for ELK to take care of it all. 

What category would we figuratively put ELK in? 

At ELK we stick to what we can do and what we are good at – we manufacture and build. We do not want to do development, architecture or projects – that is not our domain. But we are able to negotiate and come to an accord with all those involved. ELK does not build connections, roads or power plants, that is not our job. We create a prefabricated building envelope and we are able to negotiate with everyone who comes before and after us. 

How would you at ELK interpret prefabrication? 

Prefabrication means that the walls of the house are manufactured in production plants in Schrems, Austria or Freiwald, Germany. They contain all the insulation, windows, blinds, window sills, complete electrical wiring, water, waste, air conditioning installations, etc. In the end, the wall comes either with classic plaster or wooden panelling. The entire 7–8 m wide wall is loaded onto a lorry. A normal residential house is brought onto the site by four lorries. No other lorries enter the construction site. The core and shell structure of the house, i.e. the envelope, is assembled from the walls, including the windows and entrance door. It gets covered with a roof so that rain doesn’t get in. all this takes four to five days. All that is left is the interior equipment and installation. The prefabricated parts were made by workers in a factory where there is a constant temperature of 20 °C, it neither rains nor snows there. They have standards for everything, they produce exactly according to digital documents. On the construction site, they would be exposed to weather conditions, it would take longer and the quality would probably not be as good. The less that is invented and modified on the construction site, the better. We try to think of everything in advance, produce as much as possible in the factory and assemble it like a jigsaw puzzle on the construction site. That is prefabrication. 

One of the basic parameters for the client is the price.  

You can easily get information about the price of a house by asking us. But first we need to know what kind of a house you want, so that is why we need to ask. We deliberately do not publish price lists. If I were to compare it to car brands, we are not trying to be Lamborghini, Maserati or Ferrari. Figuratively speaking, we are somewhere on the level of Volkswagen, Volvo, Audi or BMW. Although we are now dealing with two houses that would be, in this terminology, comparable to the most expensive Porsche that one can choose from – and something more. If we take the prices from–to, the ‘to’ side is always a bit misty, because individualization and the size of the house basically have no limits. 

You have an inspiring presentation of housing offer in Blue Lagoon in Vienna. Are you also planning anything in Prague?  

In April, we will open an Experience Store in Prague 6. In a fun digital and interactive way, we will walk the customer through their future house in order to clarify what it should look like from the outside and inside, what it should comply with… Whether a dark or light floor would be nicer. It will be something like configuring a car. You add something and the wheels, colour, spoilers change in the picture, everyone enjoys it and everyone understands it. We can do this with a house in 2D and in the showroom also in 3D whilst wearing special glasses. Customers do not need to know what types of roofs there are. What is enough for us is for them to say what they like and what they don’t like, that this is too much and that is not enough. This is recorded during the digital tour and at the end the customers see what they have chosen. I would proudly say that in this respect ELK has not only surpassed its competitors in the field of timber construction, but also the entire construction industry. We believe ourselves to be a good partner. We do not want to build ‘just’ houses, but homes for people. And from our point of view, that is more than just a box with a roof. 

Arnošt Wagner

Photo: ELK archive

 

And what about you, have you already registered for the next ELK TIMBER ACADEMY?

Have you downloaded the ELKHouseDesigner application? 

One might say ‘halls’ – clearly defined, rational, geometric, efficient. A well-built hall is the foundation yet there is much more that makes industrial development successful. 

Let’s take a closer look at some of the aspects. 

P3 Jeřmanice © Goldbeck

1. Vision

When, a few years ago, the industrial developer P3 Logistic Parks chose one of the Vítkovice brownfields, a former raw waste disposal site, they had a much higher ambition than just another logistics complex. The empty spot on the map of Ostrava is to become a commercial and industrial district, and its layout and area of 40 hectares make this possible. But for the project to become part of the city, it needed an urban vision. This was provided by the Ostrava-based PROJEKTUDIO with architect David Kotek, just as the idea of building on the orthogonal connections of the surrounding buildings and the neighbouring industrial icons of the Lower Vítkovice area. 

The project has already undergone the first two stages of construction, and the mix of companies operating in the new halls confirms that the vision is being fulfilled. “The idea of P3 Ostrava Central is to create a space where production, logistics and services work side by side, complementing each other,” says Aleš Zacha, Head of Development and Acquisitions at P3, and continues: “We want business to thrive there, whether it is based on large engineering units or small trades.” Those who have already started their operations there include a beer distributor, a toy retailer, a handling equipment lessor, a wholesaler of refrigeration equipment, a newspaper company and a bed store. 

Over 40,000 sq m is immediately available for other companies in four halls, while smaller units can also be rented. The total built-up area is supposed to come to 155,000 sq m. The territory is gradually being fitted with new infrastructure, planted with greenery and equipped with outdoor fixtures and fittings for employees. The new district is already taking shape.

2. Location

The location represents the absolute key to the success of an industrial park and especially the business within. The proximity of the motorway network for freight transport must also meet the availability of labour and, of course, the appropriate designation of the land in the zoning plan.

If some location is doing well and further expansion is no longer possible, it is logical for the developer to look for opportunities in the immediate vicinity. This was also the case with the P3 Plzeň Myslinka park, which is located just a few kilometres from the P3 Plzeň Myslinka park in Nýřany, which is, due to its connection to the D5 motorway, popular especially with tenants from the logistics and automotive sectors. There is also a railway transshipment point nearby. 

“The park in Myslinka is a relatively new location. We managed to occupy the first two halls before they were completed. We smoothly followed up with the construction of the other two, both with an area of 8,730 sq m. They were completed this summer and are already available,” says Aleš Zacha, adding that there is also a project for a larger hall that they want to build to suit a specific tenant. 

Terrain can be a challenge, not an obstacle

The intersection of land availability, transport and workforce has recently intersected in the foothills of the Jizera Mountains. “Manufacturing companies in the Liberec Region are benefiting from the D10 motorway with a connection to the Mladá Boleslav car factory. Although the construction of the necessary industrial halls is complicated by the mountainous terrain there, we decided to accept this challenge,” explains Aleš Zacha. P3 invited Goldbeck to the technically demanding construction and partially sunk the 9 m high hall into the terrain. It was custom-built for ZF Automotive Czech, which develops and manufactures brake systems for leading world car manufacturers in nearby Jablonec nad Nisou. 

3. Municipality

Seven years ago, P3 began construction of P3 Lovosice at the transport hub between Prague and Dresden. This year, they completed the last building, which is currently being offered for rent. There are several logistics companies operating in the area, such as FM Česká, Impuls Logistics, and Ecologistics. It is also used by Mondi Štětí for storage and distribution of paper and packaging

materials, and Van Eupen’s employees are engaged in reverse logistics and electrical engineering services. In total, the tenants offer 500 job vacancies. 

The developer has been, from the beginning, working closely with the town of Lovosice and the adjacent municipality of Lukavec. “In cooperation with the local government, we strive to develop the potential of the location for leisure activities for local residents. We built an outdoor gym, contributed to a children’s playground, and this year we were happy to open a pump track. Every generation should find something for themselves,” says Aleš Zacha. Bicycles, scooters, skateboards and skates are already racing along the brand new track of the outdoor sports facility, designed and built by the specialized company Schneerstern. The undulating track with its banked turns is popular with enthusiasts from even further afield.

For more information see www.p3parks.com. 

Photo: P3 archive, Goldbeck and Vladimír Pryček

 

P3 Logistic Parks, the owner, administrator and developer of European industrial properties, has been investing in the construction of their parks for 20 years and they further continue to own, lease and manage them. It has therefore had a natural interest in their long-term sustainability from the very beginning. 

Grinity has been operating on the market for almost three years, but with its extensive expertise – previously under the Arcadis and EC Harris brands – it is recognized as an established player in the industry. What are the current trends and challenges in the development sector, and how does Grinity assist clients in meeting the demanding requirements of the modern era?

We explored these topics with Lenka Matějíčková, Sector Leader Sustainability, who oversees a team of more than 40 sustainability experts, and Jakub Pavelka, Sector Leader Commercial Developers, who leads the Project Management and Energy Building Optimization teams.

What changes have you observed on the market over the past few years?

JP: A pivotal moment occurred due to the combination of several factors – COVID-19, the war in Ukraine, the energy crisis, inflation, and ESG requirements. These events drove up the cost of construction and development projects financing, as well as the costs of building materials and labor. This made companies rethink efficiency and investment returns. In addition, the EU’s pressure to reduce carbon footprints and implement non-financial reporting introduced new opportunities as well as obligations. All these factors significantly accelerated the demand for our services. 

LM: I can confirm this, particularly in relation to my team and sustainability itself, where we are witnessing massive growth. There is a noticeable shift away from traditional certifications such as LEED, BREEAM, and more recently WELL, towards ESG, including the mandatory non-financial reporting in line with the EU Taxonomy. Additionally, the demand for Energy Building Optimization has increased significantly.

So, how do you react to this situation?

LM: ESG has become an integral part of our services. Clients increasingly come to us with questions like, ‘What does the EU actually require from us? How should we implement it? And what does it practically mean for us?’ This legislation introduces new challenges but also creates opportunities for many of our activities and solutions.

JP: From the client’s perspective, these measures are not often met with enthusiasm, but for us, they represent an opportunity. We know how to guide them and help them navigate this period with minimal disruption. Our team designs solutions that not only comply with legislative requirements but also deliver tangible operational savings for their buildings.

Can we therefore say that EU regulations are beneficial in this case?

LM: The European Union is returning to fundamental values that once existed but have gradually faded. This approach creates a stable foundation for our services. A key aspect is ensuring a return on investment, which provides banks with confidence that tenants will remain long-term and won’t be forced to leave properties due to rising operating costs. Additionally, international companies with parent organizations in other countries are increasingly focused on minimizing energy expenses. We are able to provide clients with detailed calculations on how much they can save on operational costs in the long term by investing more in higher-quality construction. We don’t limit ourselves to simple recommendations, such as installing photovoltaic systems – we analyze buildings comprehensively to propose the most efficient and realistic solutions. And we’ve been doing this for over 10 years.

JP: Building owners are currently under pressure from multiple directions. They must consider not only their own ESG reporting but also the demands of their tenants, who seek energy-efficient buildings to meet their ESG commitments. Moreover, the terms set by banks for refinancing properties play a crucial role, as they also prioritize energy efficiency.

What does the client service package include?

JP: There are several stages in which we can implement our services. One involves buildings in the development phase – either still conceptualized on paper or just starting to take shape. Based on our understanding of the client’s requirements, relevant legislation, and reporting standards, we can define the parameters of the building to ensure it is as energy-efficient as possible while meeting the current ESG requirements for buildings.

And how do you approach existing buildings? Is it possible to meet the required standards with them?

JP: Most existing buildings are part of portfolios, and clients are interested in upgrading them to be more energy-efficient and reduce their carbon footprint. We provide energy optimization, where we assess the building’s technical condition, focus on operational savings, and prepare investment measures for further improvements. We are often surprised by how much energy can be saved simply by optimizing operational parameters.

LM: Older buildings sometimes have more significant potential than one might expect. Even a building constructed just a few years ago can perform worse than an older one if its technical systems are insufficient. Unfortunately, fewer people are entering technical fields, which impacts the quality of implementations but simultaneously provides us with numerous opportunities for improvement.

JP: Another critical factor is a building’s ability to adapt to future requirements and climate challenges. The EU Taxonomy, for example, provides forecasts of changes, and we aim to prepare buildings for the next 10, 15, or even 20 years. This is not about overengineering but about creating flexibility – such as adaptable spatial layouts for future technologies or larger infrastructure systems that enable easier modernization. These measures are cost-effective yet strategically significant.

So it’s not just about the building.

LM: Exactly, it’s also about the surrounding environment. If I construct a new office building in a specific location, I should also consider how to compensate the local community. Governance plays a key role – it’s not enough to have admirable goals, such as being carbon-neutral by 2030, if concrete numbers, plans, and control mechanisms do not support them. These activities must be integrated into the company’s policy to have a real impact. This philosophy is closely tied to our work in ESG Due Diligence (ESG DD). Our team addresses not only parameters related to water or air pollution and facility operations but also Project Management that builds on governance principles. ESG now employs our entire company – while previously, a single project might involve three or four people, today it could include up to 15, ranging from biodiversity and energy experts to specialists in local pollution or Project Management. ESG is fundamentally a multidisciplinary matter requiring a coordinated approach.

Back to the situation on our market. There are not many new buildings being constructed, and instead, many economically unsuitable ones remain. What solutions do you recommend from this perspective?

JP: Currently, the market has a significant number of buildings that are ‘old’ only in a relative sense – 20 years is not a critical age for a building. However, this is often the point where the original technologies reach the end of their lifecycle. This requires significant interventions and modernization. Based on the current needs of our clients, we can prepare concepts that not only address existing issues but also consider future operational and sustainability requirements for these buildings. This approach helps ensure their long-term competitiveness.

You have completed many successful projects. Would you like to highlight any where the collaboration with the client was particularly successful?

JP: I’d like to highlight our collaboration with Mint Investments on the energy optimization of their portfolio, where we achieved significant operational energy savings. Another example is our synergy with the Fidurock portfolio, focusing on retail parks and residential buildings, where we also contributed to more efficient and sustainable operations.

LM: I would add our partnership with Česká spořitelna on their newly constructed headquarters spanning 100,000 sq m in Prague’s Smíchov district. Beyond operational carbon footprint reduction, we also focused on the embodied carbon footprint, assessing the environmental impact of the materials used. This approach was one of the first of its kind on the Czech market. Given the scale of the project, Česká spořitelna’s requirements for low-carbon materials can significantly influence the market and contribute to a transformation in supplier practices across the Czech Republic.

We face key milestones such as 2025, 2030, and 2050. How should clients prepare for these deadlines? What legislative requirements lie ahead?

LM: These years mark significant shifts, primarily due to the obligation to comply with non-financial reporting and ESG requirements. Companies will need to start systematically collecting data, analyzing it, and implementing concrete measures. The focus will be on energy savings, reducing energy consumption, and gradually achieving net-zero operational carbon emissions.

JP: Based on legislative requirements and our experience, we recommend our clients prioritize the efficient operation of their buildings, whether new or existing. Conducting an audit or operational optimization is crucial. This includes implementing measures with minimal investment costs that have a significant impact on reducing energy consumption. These measures can be implemented almost immediately if approached correctly and represent the quickest step toward preparing for future requirements.

Eventually, it’s all about people…

LM: Absolutely. Any measures should reflect the fact that employees and tenants are the most valuable assets in a building. People’s expectations are rising, and retaining them is becoming increasingly challenging, which makes it essential to prioritize their satisfaction. Optimizing a building must go hand in hand with creating a high-quality indoor environment. It’s inefficient to blindly replace all systems or implement measures solely to achieve carbon neutrality if they don’t serve a real purpose. It’s important to use common sense and remember that a building exists primarily for the people inside – this applies to 2030 and beyond. While operational carbon neutrality will be required, no one can predict with certainty what technologies will be available in the future. Therefore, it’s crucial to maintain a flexible approach, consider multiple options, and avoid a one-sided perspective. The key is openness and the willingness to adapt to whatever the future brings.

Arnošt Wagner

Photo: Archiv Grinity

The architectural and interior design company ARCHINA Ltd. has been established in 1992 and its main area of the activities is to serve the clients the complete designs for all type of the buildings and interiors, especially for hospitality, office, commercial and residential buildings.

We have entered the fourth decade of our company’s business activities and the fifth decade of my professional career as an architect with two new project designs in the field of housing and a combination of a hotel and serviced apartments.

„I am highly pleased that our studio is working on designs which restore the use of historical buildings and complete them with sensitively placed extensions into harmonious units.“ (I. Nahálka)

Magnolia Health & Spa resort (architekti / architects: Ing. arch. Ivo Nahálka, Ing. arch. Jan Suchý; generální projektant / general designer: ARCHINA Design, s. r. o.

Successfully realized projects

The first of them is the renovation and extension of a historical building situated in Prague 1 into a 4-star hotel and serviced apartments Allure Hotel and Residence. The design has already won two major international awards, namely the first place in the German Design Awards 2024 in the Excellent Architecture category, and also the first place in the International Property Awards 2024. The building contains altogether 78 hotel rooms and apartments with complete facilities and a common reception.

The other of our implemented project designs is the renovation and change in the use of the historical building of the former hotel Vítkov situated in Prague 3. According to our design, an apartment building Youstone with total of 105 accommodation units built here. 

Another new project, which is currently approaching its completion, is the renovation and extensions of two historical buildings in Prague 2, originally used as a policlinic, which will be used as a rental housing concept for the CITY POP – Artisa Group. The building will include more than 100 residential units with complete facilities, a café and parking spaces.

Purohotel (architekti / Architects – Ing. arch. Ivo Nahálka, Ing. arch. Jan Suchý; generální projektant / general designer: ARCHINA Design, s. r. o.)

Hotels

As far as the upcoming project designs of large urban developments and urban systems are concerned, we have obtained a building permit for the first stage of the spa resort known as Magnolia Health & Spa resort, which will include spa hotel and wellness hotel. The interconnected buildings will house 150 rooms with spa and relaxation facilities and a conference centre. The project design is situated in the Southern Moravia Region in the district of Novomlýnské reservoirs.

One of the other returns to smaller projects and designs is one of my favourite hotel project designs in Prague, which is Alcron Hotel, awarded already in 1999 as the best European hotel in the category of luxury hotels. According to our project design, the construction of a rooftop bar extension with a panoramic restaurant and an outdoor terrace with a magnificent view of the historical centre of Prague has started. The project won a major international award, namely the 1st place in the International Property Awards competition.

Among the number of new hotel projects designed by our company, I would like to mention the renovation and extension of another historical building in Prague 1 – the Purohotel project, the construction of which will start in January 2025. Upon completion, a 4-star hotel with a capacity of 150 rooms will be built in Prague.

Renovations and extensions

As far as other projects and designs are concerned, I would like to mention the new construction and renovation of the Vyšehrad Residence development in Prague 2 and the renovation and extension of the historical building of Národní dům Smíchov cultural centre in Prague 5. These include also another two designs for the renovation of the important building of the former Živnostenská Bank in Prague 1, the renovation and extension of the former department store in Celetná Street into a 4-star hotel, and the renovation and extension of two historical buildings in Prague 5, where 180 residential units will be created upon completion.

Ivo Nahálka

Phooto: Archina Design archive

Rooftop bar extension with a panoramic restaurant and an outdoor terrace Alcron hotel (architekti / architects: Ing. arch Ivo Nahálka, Ing. arch Otmar Němeček; generální projektant / general designer: ARCHINA Design, s. r. o.)