Beta Realities

Florenc 21 Block 01

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

Florenc 21 B01 transforms underutilized urban space into a vibrant hub of work, culture, and community. Modular market structures, active office frontages, and interconnected public spaces invite engagement, foster connection, and support everyday life—blurring the boundaries between commerce, creativity, and civic experience in central Prague. The proposal was selected as a finalist in the Florenc 21 International Architecture Competition.

At the heart of Florenc, a new ensemble brings life to a previously overlooked site. Office buildings with expressive façades, sunlit workspaces, and green terraces interact with a modular, demountable market beneath the highway. Together, they create a porous, lively urban fabric that encourages discovery, supports daily routines, and fosters cultural exchange—blending work, leisure, and public life into a vibrant, connected city environment.

Project Region

Europe

Project Period

2025

Location

Prague, Czech Republic

Team

Paul Clemens Bart, Marvin Bratke, Boyan Hristov, Alisa von Postel

Status

Concept

Programme

Retail, Workspaces, Culture

Client

Penta Real Estate

Collaborators

Klaska LTD, VBA

Size

20 865 m²

Visualisation

Dousek Zaborsky, Proloog, Negativ VA Render

Contextual Design and Spatial Connection.

The new block contributes to a lively and connected urban quarter, enhancing both city life and work environments. The office buildings respond to Prague’s historic fabric with warm-toned materials, efficient structural grids, and ergonomic modular façades. Vertical winter gardens, adaptable layouts, and green buffers enhance comfort, productivity, and wellbeing.

A Connented Groundfloor for Playful Interaction.

A network of pedestrian paths weaves between the office buildings, linking plazas, terraces, and the Florenc Market. Ground-floor retail and café spaces frame these routes, providing rhythm and interest while encouraging movement, casual encounters, and discovery, fostering a vibrant, human-scaled streetscape that balances circulation with social engagement.

A Welcoming Threshold.

The ground floor creates a smooth transition from bustling streets into the development. Setbacks, terraces, and wide entrances open up to pedestrians, while shaded walkways and seating encourage pause and interaction. Retail and café frontages activate the edge, making the interface between city and building inviting and dynamic.

A Vibrant Hub Beneath the Highway.

Florenc Market transforms underutilized space into a lively, flexible venue for culture, commerce, and community. Modular CLT structures, open circulation, and a central stage create a dynamic environment that encourages engagement, exploration, and social interaction, celebrating Prague’s market traditions while responding to contemporary urban needs.

Layered Spaces for Social Engagement.

The market’s two levels maximize usability under the highway canopy. The ground level hosts modular stalls, retail, and cafés, while an accessible mezzanine offers elevated breakout spaces and viewpoints. Openings and sightlines maintain visual connection to the street, allowing movement, interaction, and vibrant engagement across both levels.

A Platform for Culture and Creativity.

Florenc Market supports diverse cultural programming—from performances and exhibitions to workshops and seasonal events. Flexible stalls, a central stage, and adaptable circulation spaces allow artists, performers, and visitors to interact seamlessly, turning the market into a living, evolving stage for community participation, creative exchange, and urban vibrancy.

Sustainable, Reusable, and Future-Ready.

Constructed entirely from renewable timber, Florenc Market is designed for disassembly. Modular CLT components can be reused or relocated as the masterplan evolves, minimizing waste and maximizing circularity. Visible joinery and lightweight construction demonstrate sustainable innovation, ensuring the market remains adaptable, resilient, and environmentally responsible throughout its lifecycle.

Rooftops for Work, Wellness, and Leisure.

The roof terraces extend the office environment into open air, offering spaces for informal meetings, fitness, relaxation, and social interaction. Shaded pergolas, seating areas, and greenery create a human-scaled, inviting environment, while careful planting buffers provide privacy and comfort, turning the rooftops into vibrant extensions of daily life.

A Layered Public Realm Above the City.

From above, the roofscape reveals a multifunctional, interconnected network of terraces, green zones, and event spaces. Social stairs link different levels, while solar infrastructure and vegetated edges enhance environmental performance. The design integrates work, recreation, and ecology, creating a visible, active layer that contributes to both the building’s identity and the broader urban landscape.

A Streetscape for People and Planet.

The streetscape reveals a lively urban environment framed by lush greenery and planted buffers. Rainwater retention, permeable surfaces, and microclimate-enhancing vegetation create a cooler, healthier public realm. Combined with the adaptable, modular Florenc Market and surrounding office buildings, the design demonstrates how sustainability and social vitality can coexist at the city’s edge.