The creation of the new Rohan City district is entering its second phase. This year, the developer Sekyra Group will begin construction of four residential housing blocks with 640 apartments. The costs of this phase located closer to the city centre will come to CZK 8 billion. Rohan City will thus become the second largest construction site after Smíchov City, which is also being built by Sekyra Group.
Rohan City is a newly emerging urban district located on the boundary of Karlín and Libeň, which will include architecturally impressive residences, modern administrative buildings, spaces for services, relaxation and sports, a school and public spaces including a large park. The project’s full completion is planned after 2035. According to Sekyra Group, the total investment is estimated at around CZK 30 billion.
A district with names of great philosophers
The second phase will be more extensive than the one that is currently being completed. A large part of it will consist of rental housing. More than 40% of the 640 apartments will be for rent. The developer has therefore agreed to cooperate with two institutional investors – the Kooperativa insurance company and the MINT residential fund.
“The construction of the Rohan City philosophical district is entering the next stage, which will offer both owner-occupied and rental housing. It will not only involve residential buildings, but also the creation of public space, whether it is a coastal promenade or extensive park areas,” said Luděk Sekyra, founder of the Sekyra Group.
The streets of Rohan City will be named after prominent Czech philosophers and great figures of Western thought. “I strive to ensure that the districts we build always express an overlap and a legacy. 23 streets and five parks already bear the names of prominent personalities. The Smíchov City project pays tribute to great female figures while in Žižkov City, we would like to honour writers and dissidents,” emphasized Luděk Sekyra.
Connection to the original development of Karlín
The second phase of Rohan City, covering an area of more than 6.5 hectares, is actually the completion of the urban structure of historic Karlín. This stage also includes the spatial preparation required by the city for the future Rohan Bridge, which is expected to connect Karlín and Holešovice.
Between the first and second stages of Rohan City, there will be a large park, which will be the connecting line of Kaizlovy sady near Invalidovna with the future Maniny Park. The project is being prepared by the city of Prague in cooperation with the Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR).
Four housing blocks, four architectural studios
The second stage comprises four housing blocks designed by the architectural studios Schindler Seko architekti, Atelier bod architekti, LOXIA Architectes Ingenierie and QARTA Architektura. The apartments located in the three blocks of Specto Karlín, Ethos Karlín and Fluo Karlín are intended for private ownership. A total of 240 apartments from the fourth block comprising two separate buildings are set aside for rental housing. The first of the buildings with 127 apartments will be built by Sekyra Group for the insurance company Kooperativa, and the second building with 113 apartments for the MINT residential fund.
“The agreement with them is as crucial for the acceleration of the Rohan City project as the agreements with Česká spořitelna and ČEZ were for Smíchov City,” noted Sekyra Group Executive Director Leoš Anderle.
Gateway to the new district
Ethos Karlín will comprise 186 apartments available for personal ownership. The development is divided into three buildings and will include a green courtyard. A distinctive feature of the entire block is its glass facade. Commercial premises will be located on the ground floor.
Specto Karlín is a tower building connected to the lower building by a two-story linking structure. It will offer a total of 77 apartments, mostly facing multiple directions with views of the river or the park. The project will also feature loft-style maisonettes with front gardens.
The Fluo Karlín block is divided into two sections of different heights. Together with the Specto Karlín tower building, the higher section will form the gateway to the new district from the planned bridge. This housing block is to comprise approximately 135 apartments.
Offices with top sustainability standards
The second stage also includes two administrative buildings located along Rohanské nábřeží. However, Sekyra Group does not intend to build them on speculative basis. Their construction will not commence until a tenant or the end owner of the building is found. The total rental area of the administrative buildings designed by the Schindler Seko architects and A.D.N.S. architects offers over 13,000 sq m. They are designed in the A class energy standard and aim for the LEED PLATINUM sustainability certificate.
The heart of Rohan City by Daniel Libeskind
At the same time as the second phase of Rohan City is being launched, preparations are also continuing for the third, central phase, designed by world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind. The four buildings comprising approximately 500 apartments and arranged around a newly created square will be called Sekyra Flowers. The focal point of the entire district will be the new main square named after the philosopher Simone Weil. Libeskind drew inspiration for its design from Karlín’s historic public spaces. The square will be planted with greenery and complemented by water features and will become the gateway to the future Maniny Park.
The public space will be framed by four Sekyra Flowers residential buildings. Each of the buildings will ‘bloom’ in the form of three shimmering flowers. The towers will be clad in tiles designed to capture and reflect light, creating the impression of blooming flowers. In total, Sekyra Flowers is to include 500 apartments while the entire phase is to consist of 1,700 apartments.
On the ground floor of the buildings, there will be a parterre with retail area accommodating restaurants, cafes, facilities for leisure activities and services. Additional commercial areas will line the central pedestrian boulevard and connect seamlessly to the adjacent cycle path. This will create a pleasant environment for both Rohan City residents and visitors.
Denisa Novotná
Visualisation: Sekyra Group Archive