The northern part of the former Žižkov Freight Railway Station complex is being transformed into a new urban quarter. On the site of what was once an enclosed industrial area, a group of five blocks is emerging, extending the existing urban fabric along Jana Želivského and Olšanská streets and completing the missing quadrant of Basilejské náměstí. On the southern side, the new buildings form a counterpart to the historic freight station building.
The urban design draws on the perimeter block structure typical of Vinohrady and Žižkov, while adapting it to contemporary housing needs. We have transformed the traditional enclosed blocks into open courtyard blocks that admit more light, air and greenery. This approach not only improves the quality of housing but also gives rise to a richer hierarchy of public and private spaces.
In terms of massing, each block is subdivided into several residential buildings with an average height of around six storeys. The volumes of the individual buildings are differentiated in height, echoing the naturally evolved block development characterised by diversity in both style and scale. Each block also features a twelve-storey landmark element that rises above the surrounding average building height, accentuating the central part of the site.
Running east to west through the site is a "green" axis – a public space with a higher proportion of planting and water features, serving as a tranquil recreational zone for both residents and the wider public. The green axis passes through the heart of the entire site, where it opens out at the intersection with a perpendicular street to form a small square that serves as the local centre of the newly built quarter.
