Prague 3: Housing Červený dvůr

The apartment building, designed for long-term rental housing, will offer residents sufficient comfort and, thanks to its typology, will promote social interaction and the community character of living. The individual buildings are concentrated around a residential courtyard and connected into a unified whole by their generous balconies. The prefabrication and modularity of the design allow for simplicity of construction and variability of layouts. The construction design is environmentally friendly and economically efficient, with an emphasis on the quality of urban living within the wider center of Prague.

Proposal 17 presents a bold and self-confident concept of urban housing that clearly distinguishes itself from conventional developer schemes. Three separate yet conceptually coherent buildings form a block naturally defined in relation to the surrounding city. Urbanistically, the project works convincingly – it connects the street with the courtyard, activates the ground floor and offers a contemporary interpretation of the traditional gallery-access house. The apartments are well balanced in size and layout, and their number gives the project sound economic logic. The structural design, using reinforced concrete with CLT panels, and spatial design is rational and functional, with an emphasis on communal spaces and a shared ground floor. The architectural expression is raw and direct; it is precisely this roughness that becomes its defining feature, creating a symbolic reference to the urban district for which it is designed. Although some parts – particularly the corner and the central building – may feel overly closed and raise questions of scale and neighbourly sensitivity, the jury regarded the whole as an authentic and distinctive interpretation of contemporary urban living in Žižkov. Although, for example, certain adjustments could be made to the detailed layout, the proposal is exceptionally strong in its overall concept, potential, and courage to create a new type of urban block; therefore, the jury awards it the first prize.

A new apartment building will be constructed on a vacant lot on Na Viktorce Street, encouraging representative public investment commensurate with its significance and bringing new life to this previously neglected area. We propose a compact, economically undemanding building with an efficient layout. A contemporary building with a basic structure and human scale, which is not ostentatious. The ground floor will serve the public, connecting the building socially with the city. The interior is linked to the surrounding landscape through roof gardens and terraces, which allow neighbors to meet and engage in joint activities. The overall design of the block extension forms a welcoming whole that will contribute to community life in the neighborhood with the prospect of economical operation.

Proposal 9 represents a refined and balanced approach to urban housing. It complements the existing block naturally, with emphasis on a well-composed corner, a clear entrance and an appropriate street scale. The inner courtyard is designed as a shared space with enough soil depth for full-grown greenery and direct contact with the day-care centre, enriching the life of the building and its surroundings. The apartment layouts are carefully considered; two circulation cores allow cross-lighting and typological variety, though this solution is not the most economical in operation. The structural system, combining a reinforced-concrete frame with CLT panels, meets technical requirements and ensures stability and clarity. The architectural expression is calm and natural, with a subtle reference to traditional gallery-type housing. The first stage, although the smallest part of the block, appears complete and convincing. The result is a beautiful, understated building that is confident yet friendly to its surroundings, for which the jury awards the second prize.

The community courtyard, surrounded on all sides by new apartment buildings and a day care center, creates a social hub for residents and visitors. The two apartment buildings in the first phase are located on the northern edge of the plot to allow for the ideal implementation of independently functioning garages with an entrance from the east. This solution also reduces costs through repetition. The apartment buildings are connected by the low-rise day care center, which is maximally connected to the outdoor courtyard space full of greenery, where trees can grow to their full potential because the shared garage runs along the perimeter of the plot. The striking colors of the proposed buildings, even when the block is fully completed, draw attention to their interconnectedness and thus invite people into the community courtyard. The houses are designed as a combination of a load-bearing reinforced concrete skeleton, non-load-bearing wooden partitions, and a non-load-bearing wooden facade with corrugated asbestos cement cladding, which can be completely prefabricated. This solution emphasizes environmental sustainability and, at the same time, faster construction and thus cost savings. The corrugated fiber cement panels are an aesthetic element of the facade and also provide good protection for the wooden walls of the facade.

Proposal 11 consists of a pair of buildings linked by a pergola-like connector that naturally extends the courtyard and supports its social use. The phasing strategy is well thought out and allows each part, including the garages, to function independently, giving the project notable flexibility. The layouts are functional but locally complicated due to the less successful positioning of the circulation cores, which causes some operational ambiguities. The structural design combines reinforced concrete with CLT panels, creating a suitably robust yet environmentally conscious system. The ground floor includes a day-care centre and smaller commercial spaces that activate both the courtyard and the street. The architectural expression is restrained and cultivated, free of unnecessary expressiveness, and together with the welcoming courtyard forms a high-quality and realistic design – somewhat conservative and less inventive, yet deserving of the third prize, according to the jury.

The concept of the residential complex is based on the surrounding context, the new zoning plan, and the aim to create a model for contemporary urban housing in Prague that combines affordability, sustainability, and a community-oriented lifestyle. The proposed buildings follow the street lines, complete the block structure, and together form a semi-public courtyard — a community garden for meeting and relaxation. Given the nature of rental housing, the design seeks an economical yet dignified solution, emphasizing a rational form, efficient timber construction, and simple building principles. Open circulation areas, communal rooms within the vertical cores, and rooftop terraces create a network of shared spaces that naturally support neighborly relations and connect residents across floors. The project demonstrates that high-quality urban living is not defined only by the privacy of individual apartments but also by a cohesive and vibrant environment that becomes an integral part of the city.

Proposal 20 explores a concept of strong spatial permeability and visual interconnection between apartments, supported by the use of glass blocks and interior openings. This principle feels fresh and original in smaller units but loses logic and comfort in larger ones. The apartment layouts are well designed and promising, though the structural concept limits barrier-free access and introduces technical difficulties. The courtyard placed above the garage reduces the natural and ecological quality of the outdoor space. Overall, it is an intriguing concept with well-considered plans that would benefit from further development towards technical feasibility. Nevertheless, the idea’s freshness and openness impressed the jury, which therefore awarded it the fourth prize.