Within ten years, a new urban neighborhood will be built in Vysočany, featuring over a thousand apartments, shops, cafés, and offices. The project by developer Corwin is being built on a hillside above the Praha-Libeň train station according to the principles of a “city for people,” made famous by Danish urban planner Jan Gehl, in collaboration with the Czech OVA studio. Dvory Vysočany aims to connect private housing with vibrant public spaces and quiet courtyards.
Vysočany for people
The new neighborhood will be built on the site of a former industrial complex, which today forms one of the city’s so-called inner peripheries. The design envisions the gradual transformation of the brownfield into a compact urban structure featuring seven blocks of housing, a public square, and a network of streets and courtyards. The urban concept is based on principles that helped transform cities like Copenhagen and New York. Key elements include short distances for daily life, an active ground floor level filled with services, and streets serving as meeting places. According to the project's authors, this should result in a compact and easily navigable neighborhood where most daily needs can be met on foot and where public spaces foster community life and outdoor activities. The entire project will be developed gradually over the course of roughly ten years and, upon completion, will offer more than 1,000 apartments as well as new public spaces that will connect the area around K Žižkovu Street with the Praha-Libeň train station and the surrounding neighborhoods.
“The Dvory Vysočany project is being developed on the border of Prague 3 and Prague 9. K Žižkovu Street currently functions as a typical thoroughfare, but it has the potential to become a true urban boulevard. If shops and services are brought to the ground floor, today’s deserted intersection could become a lively place. In addition, a pleasant promenade could be created along the railroad tracks, connecting to the A5 backbone bike path leading further east,”
says architect Štěpán Valouch from the OVA studio.
1,200 apartments surrounded by greenery
This ambitious residential project will offer approximately 1,200 apartments, which will be built gradually in two phases. The architects emphasize a diverse range of apartment types, from small studios to spacious four-bedroom units, which is intended to contribute to the creation of a socially diverse neighborhood and naturally foster the development of a neighbors' community. The apartments are designed with an emphasis on efficient use of space, ample natural light, and functional layouts. Most of them feature a private balcony, loggia, terrace, or front garden, which naturally expand the living space and enhance living comfort. Basement storage units and parking spaces are also standard. The project will include community amenities. The ground floors of the buildings will house shops, cafés, and services, complemented by offices and a planned kindergarten.
Seven blocks, seven atmospheres, one identity
The new neighborhood is laid out across seven buildings with semi-public courtyards. The center will feature a square with a revitalized historic building that once served as a coffee roastery. The architects deliberately avoided monotony. Each block has its own silhouette, materials, and color palette, so the whole complex makes a varied yet cohesive impression. The facades are traditionally divided into a base, the body of the building, and the roof, and the roofline also plays a significant role here: the top two floors are always slightly set back, so the street space does not feel heavy and the buildings acquire characteristic “crowns.” Each corner also receives a distinctive accent. The result is seven houses, seven different atmospheres, but a single shared identity for the entire neighborhood.
The facades of the individual houses will be diverse, similar to those in Smíchov City. The houses are crowned by a rich roofscape.
Source: CorwinCourtyards as an oasis of calm
High-quality greenery plays just as important a role as urban planning and architecture. The design of public spaces and courtyards was prepared by the Land05 studio, which works with diverse types of plantings and the distinct atmosphere of each courtyard. The courtyards provide not only a more pleasant microclimate but also a sense of security. Neighbors can meet here, and children can play freely. Some courtyards have entrances directly from the front gardens of the ground-floor apartments, which further strengthens their community character. Each courtyard also features a covered space for communal gatherings.
The project includes a well-thought-out system of courtyards that ensure peace, safety, and a community atmosphere, while the central square provides a space for residents to gather.
Source: Corwin“The most valuable projects are those that emerge in so-called inner peripheries—places where people today don’t particularly want to spend time. If we can create an environment here where people want to live and take care of it, that is far more valuable than building another house in an already established neighborhood. It is precisely the transformation of such places that is key to urban development. I believe that Dvory Vysočany can serve as a model for how to approach similar areas in other parts of the city,”
says Jaromír Hainc, Director of the Department of City Development at IPR Prague.
Sustainability is a must
An important part of the project is also an eco-friendly approach to both the construction and operation of the entire neighborhood. The Dvory buildings meet the PENB A energy standard, which means exceptionally energy-efficient operation and lower energy consumption in households. The design also incorporates a range of environmental measures that are becoming increasingly important in large urban projects today: photovoltaic panels and greenery are planned for the roofs, and emphasis is also placed on rainwater management. Natural variations in terrain then allow water to be diverted into retention features, and the courtyards are designed to function as quieter, semi-public gardens with the potential for water infiltration.
Most apartments have their own balcony, loggia, terrace, or front garden.
Source: CorwinResidents of the new neighborhood will be able to conveniently benefit from sustainable mobility. The A5 backbone bike path runs through the area, and the Praha-Libeň train station, which offers quick connections to downtown Prague and other regions, is just a few minutes’ walk away.
“The partial opening of the blocks brings a somewhat unconventional approach to the Prague environment. This makes the inner courtyards part of the public space, yet they remain places with their own unique atmosphere. However, the neighborhood’s design addresses not only grand urban planning but also small practical details, such as benches integrated into the entrances of residential buildings, where you can set down your bags while searching for your keys,”
adds architect Štěpán Valouch of OVA.
Are you interested in the development of Vysočany? Check out the full recording of the discussion, featuring Petr Hlaváček (Deputy Mayor of Prague for Spatial Development and Urban Planning), Jaromír Hainc (Director of the Department of City Development, IPR Prague), Jakub Dobrý (Country Manager, Corwin CR), Štěpán Valouch (Architect, OVA), and Tomáš Portlík (Mayor of Prague 9):
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