Keystone Office Building

Prague, Czech Republic

Photo © Simon Menges

Siteplan

Ground floor

Section

Office Buildings

Architects: EM2N

Location: corner of Pobrežni and Šaldova street Karlìn, Prague, Czech Republic
Year: 2012
Client: Real Estate Karlín Group a.s.
Type of Commission: Direct commission
Study commission: 2007–2008
Planning: 2008–2010
Start of construction: 2010
Completion: 2012
Space Program: 3 basement floors for parking, ground floor with showroom/sales area and extra small saleroom, 1st–7th floor office space
Gross floor area parking incl.: 11’600 m2
Ground floor: 773 m2
1st–7th floor: 5339 m2

This office building stands at a kind of gateway situation at a prominent situation in Karlín, a district of Prague that is undergoing rapid change, at the corner of Pobrežni Street and Saldova Street.

The ground floor, taller than the other levels, contains shops and showrooms while the upper floors are occupied by office space. The external appearance of the building takes up geometrical themes found in Czech Cubism at the start of the 20th century. The volumetric concept of the façade creates an ambivalently legible network of forms oriented in different directions. The double–layered façade not only produces a sculptural outer skin, but also improves the performance of the windows in terms of thermal and acoustic insulation.

Through the contrast to the exterior the impressive entrance hall establishes a certain formal tension. Here high–quality materials and expensive surfaces are used. The hall is clad half with chrome steel and half with terrazzo and stucco lustro.