Hotel in Prague’s centre and a new neighbourhood on the outskirts

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UBM Development Czechia is a development company which has operated in the Czech market for 27 years. The Czech branch of the significant Austrian developer UBM Development AG is not afraid to get down to non-traditional, large and complex projects.

 

We discussed the company’s activities with their Director, Josef Wiedermann.

Can you introduce UBM and its operation in the Czech market?

Our very first activity was the reconstruction of the neo-Baroque palace Darex situated at Wenceslas Square. Now we mainly attend to residence construction and also the construction of administrative buildings and hotels. We look for interesting projects for acquisition, in particular in the segment of residential housing. As for Prague, we currently have the realization of a total of 650 residential units ready. What comes as a distinct advantage is the fact that we are able to cover the whole development process ourselves. We, for instance, have our own experienced team of architects and civil engineers led by Helmut Berghofer who work for most of the countries we operate in. They prepare all levels of project documentation – from studies to interior design.

Where else are you active in Europe and in what way?

Apart from the Czech Republic, we also realize projects for leading European metropolises in Austria, Germany and Poland. We strategically focus on residential and administrative projects just as they do in our country. With more than 145 years of history, UBM is the only provider that covers the whole development process via their own resources, from initial planning to marketing and ultimate sale.

What Czech projects historically belong to those most successful?

It is difficult to select the most successful projects but if I was to speak of the largest then, it is, no doubt, the multifunctional project Anděl City at Smíchov, Prague, comprising 14 buildings within the complex of the former Tatra factory, which was constructed in three stages and changed the original appearance of Anděl at Smíchov. There we built two designer hotels, Angelo and Andel´s, the multiscreen cinema CineStar (at that time called Cinema) with underground garages with a capacity of 436 parking places, five administrative buildings, which used to house Czech branches of global giants such as Cetelem or Maersk. The whole project was completed with two residential buildings with 106 and 109 apartments and an apartment building that belongs to Andel´s Hotel. This location also offers our current luxurious residential project NEUGRAF, which is under construction. It comprises 177 apartments with communal terrace on the roof of the southern wing and a private wellness. The conversion of the historical building to the Le Palais Hotel also represented a special project and so does the present reconstruction of Cukrovarnický Palace at Senovážné Square, transforming it into the Hotel Andaz Prague, the top line of the Hyatt Hotels chain. It is, so far, also UBM’s biggest investment in the Czech Republic.

A large residential project is being built on the boundaries of Stodůlky and Řeporyje. How many apartments are you planning there and in what time horizon?

Arcus City is our new project situated in the south-west part of the city. It will be realized in three stages and will provide 284 residential units and 26 family houses. In June we commenced the pre-sale of the first stage, which comprises 100 units and is to be completed in 2023. Other stages are to follow in a relatively speedy sequence. The second stage will be put onto the market during next year. The first phase of the residential development offers two categories – Comfort and Penthouse. They both come with an above standard quality of all utilized materials, from wooden windows and floors to quality sanitary products and tiles.

What is typical of Arcus City? How does it differ from other projects in this location?

Arcus City, as its name suggests, will create a new compact complex of a large area, which includes housing in residential and family houses, commercial premises and a new bus stop. The complex of these is to provide residents with comprehensive self-contained comfort as well as a quick connection with Stodůlky underground station. The whole area also includes a large number of possibilities for relaxation and sports complemented with new greenery, even though there is a direct connection to Řepora open-air museum. Another significant difference lies in the quality of standards I have already mentioned, both in the residential units as well as building technology such as strengthened walls for better acoustic insulation.

Are you also accounting with the development of civic amenities and commercial premises?

Commercial premises will be situated in the centre of the project as a part of ground floors of residential buildings, which belong to the second stage. It is therefore to complete an imaginary square of all three stages.

Aren’t you worried about unpleasant traffic noise from Prague’s ring road?

The architectural project is executed ingeniously into an arch shape so the buildings are distributed in such a way that they are enclosed. Windows face the inner block or enjoy a south or south-easterly view of Řeporyje and Zbuzany. Jeremiášova and Poncarova Streets therefore remain at the back of the residents.

Are you planning any measures regarding this?

Apart from the concept of building as such, we are also to strengthen the green strip that leads to Poncarova Street, which already partly separates them and with regards to the naturally rippled terrain, which is several metres higher by the road, we consider it totally sufficient.

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DOCK IN: Where work, comfort and nature complement one another

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The administrative district DOCK IN is being constructed on the boundary of two worlds – the pulsating centre of the metropolis and the peaceful environment of a park alongside a river. It combines modern administrative premises, perfect background facilities, easy accessibility – and most of all direct contact with nature.

 

DOCK IN is the synonym of a modern administrative centre within the centre of the metropolis. It is a part of the residential and commercial campus DOCK by the development group Crestyl and is situated on the boundary of Prague’s Libeň, Karlín and Holešovice, near the Palmovka underground station. In spite of the peaceful environment, it also offers excellent connections either by car or public transport, this being due to the nearby tram stops and an underground stop – the journey to Prague’s centre will therefore take just a few minutes.

 

 

 

Completely finished next year

The administrative part of DOCK IN is divided into several stages. The first three already completed stages are leased. The building DOCK IN FOUR is to be completed before the summer and is also almost fully leased and work on the last stage DOCK IN FIVE has already been commenced. Completion of this building, which will crown the development of the whole new Dock district, is scheduled for the end of next year. DOCK IN FIVE will offer almost 25,000 sq m of administrative premises and retail premises. Nevertheless, the suitable location and large work premises are not the only feature that DOCK IN stands out for amongst other projects.

 

Facilities will support productivity

Productivity is not only influenced by more and more advanced technologies but also by the comfort of those who operate them. And large companies have already realized that only a comfortable chair or automatic coffee machine will just not do in order to provide employees with the comfort they require. That is why DOCK IN offers versatile facilities that meet employees’ comprehensive requirements for comfort. The complex also comes with several restaurants, a café, fitness centre and the DOCK-IN-JOY concept where one can hire paddleboards, paddle boats and motorboats and will now also attend to yachting. The complex also includes outdoor fitness features.

Nearby, there is a golf driving range and tennis courts and the whole complex is surrounded by a tartan running track, which connect to the city cycleways. Crestyl also accounts with the opening of a nursery school, hairdresser’s and other particularly useful premises and the whole concept will provide wireless connection and the possibility to charge a computer or mobile with ease. It means that DOCK IN combines a modern working environment with the comforts that many people only associate with home. Imaginary deletion of these boundaries therefore provides companies with a tremendous potential for increased productivity. Moreover, the adjacent location of Palmovka offers comprehensive civic amenities – schools, sports grounds, medical facilities, post office, theatre, shops and restaurants.

Nature at hand

The DOCK IN project is characteristic for being set in a green environment amongst water features. A stream of vegetation flows down tiered terraces of buildings, being connected directly to greenery that leads to a one-hectare central park. The buildings therefore don’t create the impression of a concrete box that would disturb the relief of the landscape but blend in harmony. The complex also has a marina, offering the possibility of relaxing directly on the river’s banks.

Nature is not only included in the project physically but also penetrates to its soul. All the buildings are designed in accordance with the international criteria of the programme of long-term sustainable projects, LEED Gold. Charging stations for e-cars and e-bikes, economical lighting as well as rain sensors that allow water management during the irrigation of outdoor greenery come as a matter of course and rainwater tanks are also utilised. DOCK IN thus represents a project that is friendly to the human mind as well as the environment.

Interest from global companies

DOCK IN has already attracted many significant companies such as Saint-Gobain, Dáme jídlo, BNP Paribas Cardif Pojišťovna, ASSA ABLOY, Lego Trading, Publicis, Henkel and Hornbach and others continue coming. “The interest in DOCK IN confirms that we have also managed to create a modern administrative centre with a really pleasant working environment situated near the metropolis’ centre. Thanks to the offices being situated within the immediate vicinity of the apartments, the area remains lively and the overall unique atmosphere is also emphasised by the abundance of greenery and the adjacent river,” says Omar Koleilat, managing director at Crestyl Group.

 

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The racecourse in Velká Chuchle

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Now Chuchle Arena Praha, is, after two years, returning to the ownership of the Víteks’ family and is gradually turning into a multifunctional sports and cultural complex. Thanks to investment of hundreds of thousands Crowns, there were modernized background facilities for jockeys and visitors and an area for show jumping and a design hotel situated directly within the grandstands. A 7m long steel statue of a shark created by professor and academic sculptor Michal Gabriel was unveiled at the end of June with the aim to bring culture and art into the complex. Building and other works which current value amounts to CZK 277 mil., was commenced in the winter 2018. Renovation of the outdoor areas goes hand in hand with the interior reconstruction. In 2018, an area of a small betting counters and restaurant were renovated. New salons for visitors to the races and the Derby Club Prague area were prepared for the 2019 season on the fifth floor. Reconstruction of hotel rooms in the original accommodation area was completed this year. Stables and background facilities for jockeys, for instance changing rooms and weighing rooms also underwent reconstruction.