Competition entry. 

This brief invited us to explore how best to create a vibrant destination for Prague 10, and by doing so, address the future of the existing Eden Centre.

Our vision is to:  

Re-use – revitalise – regenerate – re-discover  

The Eden Centre, now vacant, presents a rare opportunity to re-focus and revitalise this part of Prague.  

The former cultural centre with a strong architectural presence, typical of its time, can, once again, be at the heart of a new cultural, community and social destination for Prague 10.  

Our proposed solution is to retain the existing building, stripped back to remove failing and out-dated finishes, but still maintain it as a prominent feature.  

Our design looks to strengthen its presence, with additional community, cultural, residential and leisure facilities, and further integrate them into the public domain by improving linkage and accessibility to the existing pedestrian and transport network.  

With a design like this we would hope to generate a significantly larger and more viable destination, with sufficient critical mass, to sustain a successful local centre for both residents and visitors to enjoy. 

Within and around the existing building, we have incorporated enclosed “streets” to access the many facilities on offer, (glazed but still open to the air); spaces flooded with natural daylight, incorporating planting and timber structures with a more natural quality, complimenting and contrasting with the solidity of the existing Eden concrete structures.  

On the upper levels we have created more private gardens and terraces, and green break out spaces accessible to residents, visitors and occupiers. It is vitally important to generate a green natural presence, as well as being a strong environmental signal, this will add benefit to those using the building and also those looking onto it.