Prague plans major redesign of Budějovická metro district

Prague city officials approved the brief for an international urban‑architectural competition, “Nová Budějárna,” to reshape the area around the Budějovická metro station (line C). The project will cover the block bounded by Budějovická, Olbrachtova and Antala Staška streets in Prague 4, aiming to improve public‑space quality, connectivity and the fragmented transport stops.

The redesign is prompted by the planned relocation of Česká spořitelna to a new headquarters in Smíchov City. The competition, open to 12 foreign and 3 Czech teams, will develop a new urban concept, building designs and public‑space layouts while retaining the DBK department store built in 1981 by architect Věra Machoniné. Petr Hlaváček, deputy mayor for spatial development, said, “Budějovická does not meet today’s urbanism requirements; we need to improve the quality of public spaces and overall accessibility.”