Complete designs of various types of buildings and interiors, especially for hotels, offices and commercial or residential premises, are the focus of the architectural and interior design company ARCHINA Design, which has been operating in the Czech and European markets for over three decades.
We spoke to its founder, Ing. arch. Ivo Nahálka, about new projects – even those whose implementation takes longer than is desirable due to lengthy construction processes.
Has there been any major progress in your projects? What stage are they currently in?
First, I would like to mention an exceptional project that is not only about reconstruction and completion, but also about turning the National House in Smíchov into a hotel. This project is not new, but the owner approached me back in 2015 with a bold idea of how to breathe new life into the building while preserving its beautiful interior and exterior. I have known the National House for years because I used to go there. So, I took it on. Last year, things moved forward significantly, because two years ago we had already received the approval of the Territorial Development Department and especially the Monument Preservation Department. In general, this involves a minimum capacity of about 100 rooms using a large roof frame and an extension towards the courtyard wing. Today, I can happily state that we already have a valid building permit. In the meantime, construction of the underground garages has begun, and I assume that the construction of the hotel itself will begin next year. The documentation was approved almost without a single comment from the National Monuments Institute and the Monument Preservation Department of the Prague City Hall.
And how is it with other projects?
By the end of this year, we will be able to launch another part of the reconstruction of the former Živnostenská banka building situated on the corner of Na Příkopě and Nekázanka streets. Last year, we completed the conversion of building A – the former bank hall – into a gallery, and the remaining part of the building will be used as offices for the management and the owner. The largest part of work awaits us in the two rear buildings, where, after a year of effort, we managed to achieve a kind of a second great miracle. We have obtained important approvals and the conversion of these two buildings into a four-star serviced apartment hotel is to begin next year. I am extremely pleased with this project. With respect to the architect Osvald Polívka, we want to bring life, beauty and shine back to this building.
It is amazing that such beautiful architecture can be made available to the public.
We were able to preserve the beautiful gallery interiors, which 50% of visitors come to see, with only minimal changes. These are our two dominant projects. Thirdly, I would like to mention Vyšehrad Station. We have had some rather demanding discussions about what the new buildings should look like. The existing station building is one part of the story, and its valuable parts will be repurposed – either in a preserved or a replica form. The two new buildings are quite significant, with 150 apartments. That means that there will be a complex of three interconnected buildings there.
What types of apartments will be there?
It will be a combination of apartments ranging from bedsit + kitchenette with approximately 25 sq m to one and more bedroom apartments. We will create a mix that may still see some changes over the next year depending on real estate prices, so that investors can come up with a realistic offer. We might get a deadline for issuing a building permit change by the end of the year, because originally, there was a plan for offices.
But the old station building is in a pitiful state…
Now it is the focus of our attention, and we are trying to save it. This year we will erect protective scaffolding over the entire building, which will allow us to gradually dismantle the damaged parts and begin renovating the building.
What can you say about the projects that have been completed?
That would be, for instance, the former Vítkov hotel, which was converted into rental accommodation. It is a co-living concept operated throughout Europe by the Baltic Asset Management Group under the name Youstone. These are fully furnished small-sized apartments intended for short-term as well as long-term lease. Something similar was completed this year in Legerova Street in Prague 2. The former Borůvka Sanatorium, later a clinic of burns, was converted into City Pop, a concept by a Swiss operator that owns several dozen similar buildings in many European countries. They are furnished apartments and are now fully leased. This project revived the former clinic, where we changed the purpose of use again and added a relatively large extension to the courtyard, creating five more apartments. Once the café and other common areas are opened, there will be a place of worship created in a memory of Jan Palach and Josef Toufar, whose life’s journeys ended in this building.
And when we move on into the area of new projects?
As for the new buildings, I would especially mention the first stage of the Magnolia Resort in Pasohlávky, which already has a building permit, and the construction will begin next year. It is a combination of two hotels of the classic spa and relaxation type with approximately 150 rooms. I am happy that the area is starting to develop, and we can continue with the project of the entire area. There should be another hotel, which should cover the accommodation requirements of Aqualand Moravia visitors. Since the rehabilitation clinic is also being completed there, the requirements for longer-term accommodation capacities will be increased. The municipality offers support which should lead to a gradual development of a small town. This plan will develop over the next five years, and the first hotel should be completed in 2027.
So, you do not only focus on the capital.
There is a project in Lipno nad Vltavou that appeared at lightning speed. It is an international hotel included in IHG, one of the largest hotel chains in the world. They have 20 chains, and in Lipno, there will be the IHG Hotels & Resorts VOCO Group, which is more of a boutique concept focused on nature. Another one is located within the exhibition centre area in České Budějovice. It should be built in 2028, once again as an international hotel from the IHG Group and with a capacity of 120 rooms. So, those are some of this year’s new projects.
But you have some projects that you work much longer on…
We also have some that drag on. An interesting concept of a four-star boutique hotel called PURO has been under construction on the corner of Revoluční and Dlouhá streets for four or five years now. It involves the reconstruction and extension of a former administrative building for a chain with Scandinavian-Polish owners, which already has a very developed hotel network in Poland, where they build and operate their own hotels. Ours should open next year. And the construction of the Sky Bar and the restaurant with an observation terrace on the roof of Alcron will finally be resumed. Everything should also be completed next year. The former Lannova health centre in Prague 1 has been under construction the longest, and this year, it finally received financing. So, 20 years later, I hope to see the main construction start in 2026, and the concept from the Almanac Hotels Group should see the light of day sometime in 2028. It is a combination of, let’s say, a city spa with medical care, which will also include an accommodation part and a large congress hall including parking.
So, can we say that not all of your projects are a bed of roses?
There are certainly more of those. For instance, the five-star hotel in Jeruzalémská Street, where we were waiting for a decision for five years because of an unnamed neighbour and in the meantime, it received several international awards. I am very happy about that, but what saddens me is that two empty buildings have been unnecessarily dilapidating there for five years. This is a moment that the architect cannot influence in any way and others decide upon it. Sometimes it is difficult to defend the completion, reconstruction and/or the entire process before relevant authorities. Previously, investors were more patient, and the processes worked faster, because there were not so many changes in the laws. The other thing is not only about investors but is related to the overall conditions for investors to be interested in financing. This is affected by the ever-increasing prices of construction work and materials. Hotels must have a clearly defined economy. One cannot build without a return. This, unfortunately, led to Prague losing quality hotels of a higher category because their clientele had also left. I look forward to the project in Jeruzalémská bringing the most demanding clients back to Prague as this is where they will find services that meet their expectations. It would be good if more quality hotels, that belong in the city centre, were built in Prague1.
Your studio is being approached by more and more clients who are suited with your architectural vision and style. This is proven by a number of international awards from recent times.
It is an award for our work, for which I am extremely happy. We have recently received news about an award for the VOCO hotel in Lipno received in the European Property Awards competition. The second one is for the completed City Pop project in Legerova Street. Last year, we succeeded with three projects in the German Design Awards, and those awarded in the Property Awards were Pasohlávky, Legerova, and Sky Bar in Alcron. It is certainly motivating for the young people in our studio. They can see that what we do brings something good to people. This shows that the path I took some 40 years ago was the right one. The most objective criterion is time, which proves that buildings really have something in them, the spirit and beauty. Everyone can tell by the character of the building whether it is an hotel or a residential or an administrative building, and the feedback from people who live and work in them is positive. Which makes me very happy.
Arnošt Wagner / Photo: ARCHINA Design archive
