Nové Dvory 5

Design of a solid urban block Nr. 5 for Nové Dvory
Closer selection in an Open Architectural Competition
Prague, CZE, 2026

Ing. arch. Michal Gabaš
Ing. arch. Tomáš Beránek
Ing. arch. Miroslav Slezák
Ing. arch. Valerie Koubová

Collaboration:

Bc. Kryštof Demel

Landscape: Mandaworks

Cyril Pavlů
Martin Arfalk
Katja Mali
Emilia Pudeck

Traffic solution:

Ing. Květoslav Syrový

Impressions:

SDAR

A Solid Urban Block with a Quiet Inner Courtyard Garden

We propose a solid urban block that defines the prominent corner of Chýnovská and Libušská Streets within the Nové Dvory development area. The block is characterised by vertical landmarks at its corners, with their heights responding to the importance of each location within the wider urban context. The tallest element, a 60-metre tower, is oriented with its narrow profile towards the new city park emerging to the north of the site. The other landmarks emphasise the corners of the surrounding streets and the entrances to the neighbourhood.

At the centre of the block, a generous semi-public courtyard garden is created, with mature trees planted directly in the ground. Its permeability is ensured by passages from the surrounding streets, strategically positioned in relation to important local pedestrian nodes and natural movement patterns. The varied height profile of the development – composed primarily of lower intermediate buildings alternating with taller corner landmarks arranged in a radially symmetrical system – also ensures favourable sunlight conditions within the courtyard.

The new development is logically divided into three building entities on the client’s land and one entity on privately owned land. The principles of this division and the resulting phasing strategy are important elements of the proposal. Each entity has its own underground garage and consists of two, or at most three, buildings – a tower and a lower infill building. This arrangement allows the entrances to the underground garages to be located away from the busy Chýnovská and Libušská Streets, avoiding conflicts with the tram line and pedestrians along the broad urban boulevard.