Port7 will transform the former industrial zone near Troja Bridge into the new heart of Prague’s Holešovice district. Based on an architectural design by the DAM.architekti studio, there will be 3 new administrative buildings, which upon planned completion in the second quarter of 2023 will offer 35,000 m2 of first-class office and retail space. Between the individual buildings will be the Port7 piazza with shops, restaurants, cafes, bistros and small-scale service establishments. The project will include a large public space. The park greenery with a promenade along the riverfront will offer respite, strolls and space for gatherings with friends. Those who enjoy various sports will appreciate the new Holešovice riverbank with a cycling trail, playground and harbour for small boats.
The first phase, now being commenced, involves the construction of a building with a leasable area of almost 28,000 m2. The developer is also investing into the construction of underground floors for the next phase.
“With the construction of the Port7 project, we return to Holešovice, where we completed the award-winning Visionary office building three years ago. We believe in this location for the long term and we are betting on its potential. We greatly appreciate the cooperation of the city hall, which supports this development. Within the Port7 project, we will create not only high-quality office space, shops and services, but also a two-hectare public space full of greenery, a promenade along the river, pleasant seating areas and a number of sports grounds. The new riverbank will draw the attention of both our future tenants and the inhabitants of Holešovice and other districts,” says Martin Machů, Project Manager at Skanska.
“We consider the brownfield between the river and train station to be rather demanding, but we have a range of experience with similar projects. Another sustainable building will be added to our portfolio, and we are doing all we can for the building to have a minimal impact on the surrounding area. It expressly applies that we are building an environment in which we ourselves would want to live,” says Skanska Central Europe President Michal Jurka.
Port7 as an architectural and urbanist whole
Port7 is rising near the Holešovice train station, which is a major junction for urban, commuter and international transportation. The largest building E, which also forms the backbone axis of the project with almost 28,000 m2 of space, will go up right along the railway tracks. This will be followed up by two buildings, A (4,200 m2) and D (3,700 m2) facing the Vltava River.
“The buildings stand at various angles to each other, and will be fully glazed with floor-to-ceiling windows. The glass facade was designed with an emphasis on fulfilling excellent thermal-acoustic parameters while simultaneously ensuring a high glazing ratio, which will offer stunning views of the river and nearby Troja. Tenants will also be able to enjoy these from many terraces, which in total cover 1,000 m2. The terraces on the towers will be thematically designed for work, sports and relaxation. Some will be accessible to all tenants and other will be offered exclusively for the use of a single tenant,” says Martin Machů, Port7 Project Manager.
Between the buildings will be the Port7 piazza, which is designed as a service centre. Tenants and visitors to Port7 will find cafes, bistros, hairdressing salons, a fitness centre, grocery store and pharmacy.
The Port7 project also includes a new public space. On an area of 2 hectares, Skanska will built a new public park with a promenade, benches, a cycling trail and various sports grounds. A harbour for small boats and vessels will be created on the Vltava riverbank.
“We are building Port7 both for our tenants and for Prague’s inhabitants. The high-quality public space is a crucial part of the project, which is why we will devote maximum care to greenery, small city furniture, an attractive offer of dining and plenty of sports facilities. We want the riverbank in Holešovice to become a phenomenon like the one in the city centre,” adds Martin Machů.
Sustainable Port7
Port7 is designed as a sustainable building which conserves and helps the environment both during construction and subsequent operation, and efficiently reduces e.g. energy and drinking water consumption (by up to 50%). Within the preparatory and excavation works on the Port7 project, the entire large brownfield will be cleaned up and the original ecological burden removed. Within the project, rainwater will be captured and used to water the vegetation.
Alternative means of transport will also be supported. The underground parking lot will feature a extensive biking facilities and towel service for cyclists. Charging stations for e-cars and e-bikes are also in negotiation. Port7 is aiming for the highest international environment certification, LEED Platinum for Shell & Core in its latest version 4 (4.1).
Quality interiors at Port7
Port7 is designed and built to meet the criteria of the international WELL certificate, which evaluates internal premises from the user’s perspective. Air purity and quality in the offices is ensured by one of the most effective filters on the market. Considerable attention will be given to the availability and balance of daylight. All built-in materials will be strictly controlled for the content of volatile organic substances. The interior should encourage active exercise, which is why Port7 will feature not only standard elevators, but also attractive stairwells in the common areas of the building. The project also foresees a number of relaxation areas - on the roof terraces, between the individual buildings and in a cultivated setting along the Vltava embankment.
Safe and healthy work environment at Port7
In connection with the Covid-19 pandemic, Skanska has prepared the Care for Life office concept in cooperation with epidemiologists, architects and designers. This is a series of measures directed towards ensuring the greatest convenience and a healthy environment for tenants and visitors to the building, even on an invisible microbial level. It includes equipment that allows touchless movement around the building, detailed plans for disinfecting surfaces, above-standard air quality control and consultancy regarding the space planning of individual offices. The individual buildings at Port7 will also undergo extended WELL Health-Safety Rating certification, which focuses specifically on assessing the building in terms of its safety against the spread of contagious diseases in cooperation with the building’s facility management.
Port7 as a smart building
For Port7, Skanska will use the unique Connected by Skanska system, which eases day-to-day use of the building for tenants, visitors and administrators alike. This unique platform brings together not only smart technologies, but more important people and their work environment.
The software includes a mobile app for regular users (employees of the companies based at Port7) and a web portal for tenants and the building administration. Connected by Skanska will enable touchless parking, access to the building and offices, or the booking of virtual reception services.
Port7 in numbers
|
Launch of construction |
2/2021 |
|
Planned completion of construction |
Q2/2023 |
|
Number of buildings / towers |
3 / 5 |
|
Office space |
31,000 m2 |
|
Retail space |
4,000 m2 |