Smíchov City, located in the 5th district of the Czech capital, Prague, is a key traditional neighborhood, southwest of the central city, across the river from the famous Vyšehrad Castle. In the 19th century, it became a center for emerging industries, with Prague-Smíchov Railway Station – a major transportation node – situated at its core.

The whole development stands as the largest and most comprehensive urban renewal project in Prague's modern history.  It encompasses a railway station, a new hub equipped with a multi-story parking garage, and a school. The city's two ends are seamlessly connected to the Smíchov railway station and the new bus terminal.

As part of the overall development, phase 2 - the southern part, designed by CASUA, a OBEBERMEYER Group company - is adjacent to Smíchov Railway Station. The project aims to leverage the renovation of the railway station to creatively repurpose the vacated area, transforming this underutilized area into a vibrant future.   

With a total above-ground floor area of 71,500 m², the southern part centers on the Česká Spořitelna headquarters campus (four buildings), complemented by three additional office buildings and a landmark hotel linked to the railway station hub.

Public Space as the Core - Green Campus

The entire area will be traversed north-south by a central pedestrian boulevard nearly one kilometer long, incorporating pedestrian, distribution, and bicycle paths. It connects the renovated Prague-Smíchov Railway Station and the new bus terminal at both ends. Unlike the previous concept of a central park as the main urban space, the project disperses greenery evenly throughout the streets. Streets perpendicular to the central pedestrian boulevard feature several strip parks that act as transitional spaces between the boulevard and adjacent buildings. These parks offer facilities for quiet relaxation, recreation, and sports.

The boulevard's scale has been carefully calibrated. Combined with the parks on both sides, it will provide 21,000 m² of public green space. This space will not only serve as an active open-air area and a comprehensive public space for residents and tourists but will also play a crucial role in enhancing the city's microclimate and mitigating the summer heat island effect.

Fully Open - Headquarter Campus

The Česká Spořitelna Campus comprises four buildings with a total floor area of 75,000 m². Beyond being the occupant of the office buildings, Česká Spořitelna is committed to being accessible to the public.

The campus features public walkways linking to the main pedestrian boulevard, allowing visitors to access numerous shops, cafes, and the staff cafeteria (open to the public). There is also direct access to a 380-seat multi-purpose auditorium, which connects to the public space in front of the campus, forming a natural cultural hub.

Outside the auditorium, the "Spanish Steps" an open-air grandstand with a stage and a capacity of 150 spectators, will connect the two campus buildings. Another vital component is the Financial Education Center, which offers teaching services for both primary and secondary school students and retirees.

Life-cycle Low-carbon

Low-carbon and green energy will be integral to every stage of the Smíchov New City project. All buildings will be heated and cooled via active concrete cores connected to 40 kilometers of geothermal pipeworks. Low-carbon concrete will be used for construction. Moreover, the entire project has been meticulously designed using digital Building Information Modeling (BIM), which will significantly streamline subsequent management and maintenance.

Simultaneously, the roof of the Česká Spořitelna headquarters campus building will feature a urban bee-house and a tree nursery, producing hundreds of tree seedlings annually. The campus will also eliminate the need for using potable water with the use of wells, rainwater cisterns, and water purifiers.

Urban Project 2024 - Prize of the Association for Urban Planning and Spatial Planning of the Czech Republic

Smíchov New City epitomizes high-quality development and stands as an outstanding representative of Prague's urban renewal, headquarter office complex, TOD development, and green eco-sustainability. CASUA, a member of the OBERMEYER Group, was awarded the "Urban Project 2024 - Prize of the Association for Urban Planning and Spatial Planning of the Czech Republic" for its exceptional architectural, urban, and landscape design capabilities.