A significant moment in Prague’s architectural landscape was celebrated as the final piece of foil protecting the golden cloak of the new Masaryčka building near Masarykovo nádraží was ceremoniously removed on Monday. This milestone was marked by Marek Dospiva, the co-owner of Penta Investments, and Petr Palička, CEO of Penta Real Estate ČR, unveiling the impressive structure.

The nine-story Masaryčka building serves as a multifunctional hub, housing offices, restaurants, shops, and services. Some of these establishments have already opened their doors, with others set to begin operations in the coming days. After twelve years of navigating permitting processes and construction, the grand unveiling has finally arrived. Moreover, in the future, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy panoramic views from the building’s green roof, accessible via a dedicated elevator.

Penta Investments has played a pivotal role in transforming the former brownfield in Prague 1 into the iconic Masaryčka building. Marek Dospiva, co-founder and co-owner of the Central European investment group, described the building’s facade, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, as an exceptional work of art. The facade’s creation was no small feat, involving an investment of half a billion Czech crowns and two and a half years of intensive preparations.

Selecting the appropriate gold hue for the building proved to be a significant challenge. Rudolf Vacek from Penta Real Estate acknowledged that the process faced many setbacks, often leading the team back to square one. Ultimately, after evaluating four samples and examining their performance in various weather conditions and lighting, a final design was chosen. The design process commenced in 2019.

The Masaryčka project, heralded as Penta’s flagship endeavor, recently received the Public Award from Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda (ODS) for its harmonious combination of modern architecture with the city’s historical context. Petr Palička, CEO of Penta Real Estate ČR, expressed great satisfaction with this recognition, highlighting the challenging journey to bring the building to life, which involved opposition from Prague 1 City Hall and the public.

The construction also prompted a significant renovation of Na Florenci Street, featuring the planting of nearly seventy hornbeam trees. The final inspection is scheduled for the coming week. A new square complete with a playful fountain, seating areas, and tall trees has been developed. The renovation of the northern shelter at the entrance to the metro station has been completed, and work on the second shelter, closer to the train station, is set to commence in the coming week.

Additionally, a competition to roof the railway tracks, aimed at expediting pedestrian connections between the central train station and Florenc, is currently underway. According to Pavel Streblov from Penta Real Estate, construction on this project may begin in the first or second quarter of the next year. Furthermore, the hotel located on Hybernská Street is nearing completion and is expected to welcome its first guests in the first quarter of the upcoming year. The process of changing the zoning plan for additional areas toward the Florenc bus station is also in progress.

Article by Prague Forum