Beta Realities

Florenc Market

How can a flexible, multifunctional development foster community, culture, and connection?

Florenc Market is a temporary, fully demountable structure made from modular CLT elements, designed with circularity, flexibility, and urban activation at its core.

Built on non-invasive foundations, the market reclaims the underutilized space beneath the highway between Florencs' B01 and B02 and transforms it into a vibrant venue for art, culture, and everyday activity. The modular system allows for plug-and-play assembly, where individual stands can be combined into larger stores or split into smaller kiosks. These stalls address both the interior hall and the surrounding alleyways, fostering permeability and activating the market’s edges. Above the stands, an accessible mezzanine offers a secondary layer of use—an open, elevated breakout space that invites visitors to linger, explore, and gather under the highway’s canopy.

Project Region

Europe

Project Period

2025

Location

Prague, Czech Republic

Team

Paul Clemens Bart, Marvin Bratke, Andrei Dan Musetescu, Boyan Hristov, Alisa von Postel

Status

Competition Shortlist

Programme

Retail, Culture

Client

Penta Real Estate

Collaborators

Klaska LTD, VBA

Size

2.300 m²

Visualisation

Proloog

Reviving Traditions in New Form.

Rooted in the Czech tradition of lively town markets, Florenc Market brings a contemporary take to a familiar urban form—celebrating sustainable construction through visible joinery, natural materials, and the expressive use of timber. Its structure makes circularity tangible, offering a space that is not only temporary and adaptable but also designed to be experienced as a living system.

Flexible Phasing.

The Florenc Market evolves in sync with its surroundings, beginning as a single-story, temporary market hall. Over time, it can expand through the addition of an active mezzanine, covered links to neighboring buildings, and eventually a vertical connection to the bridge—enabling a layered, adaptable urban intervention.

A Welcoming Threshold.

The Florenc Market’s ground floor acts as a vital connector between B01’s offices, B02’s residential spaces, and the surrounding city. Its modular timber structure and central stage create a shared social hub, while shaded walkways and active retail frontages foster daily interaction. Pedestrian pathways, plazas, and bike-friendly routes ensure seamless movement, blending work, living, and leisure into one vibrant community.

A Flexible Framework.

The Florenc Market pioneers sustainable urban development through non-invasive point foundations and reversible member joinery, ensuring minimal environmental impact. Its prefab CLT timber modules enable rapid on-site assembly and future disassembly, allowing materials to be upscycled after use. This innovative approach merges efficiency with adaptability, creating a low-waste, climate-smart space that grows and transforms with the city.

Adaptable Programs.

The modular CLT Florenc Market is designed for ultimate flexibility—its voxel-based layout allows stalls to scale up or down, while the central event space can transform into dual venues or revert to market use, supporting everything from daily trade to large-scale performances.

Cultivating Arts and Crafts.

The industrial underpass is transformed into a dynamic, rotating exhibition space beneath the highway. A modular grid of interchangeable panels turns the underside into an immersive, upside-down gallery that evolves with the seasons—showcasing both local talent and contemporary voices.

Linking Spaces, Uniting People.

Florenc Market weaves together the surrounding plots through a dynamic network of pathways and public spaces. A central passage and bustling alleyways create a fluid pedestrian experience, while inviting plazas and social hubs encourage exploration and connection. Thoughtful setbacks and active ground floors animate the journey, transforming the market into a vibrant link that unites the entire area.