Amazon Court Prague : Architecture Information

Location: Karlin Quarter Date: 2008- Architect: Schmidt Hammer Lassen Success at MIPIM for schmidt hammer lassen 22 Feb 2008 For the second year running Danish architects schmidt hammer lassen is celebrating success at the MIPIM Architectural Review future projects awards. schmidt hammer lassen’s Amazon Court development in Prague has been awarded first place in the ‘Offices’ category. Amazon Court, Prague Amazon Court is a combination of an office building and a public square and at the same time full of sustainable solutions and situated on the background of the historical Karlin in Prague. The building provides the physical conditions enabling dynamic partnerships, both for the general public in the communal areas of the building, and the users of the offices. The flexible structure of the office building surrounds a large atrium, with parts of the office facilities floating like hanging terraces and gardens spanning across the atrium space, creating an enormous glass covered public park. The atrium is a majestic space of natural elements as water, intimate terraces, trees and flowers, an inviting space that orientates all the office areas to a central heart of the building, at the same time creating and reflecting a public life that is visible from the outside. It is a semi-interior green space in direct contact with the park outside and the green promenade along the riverside. To create modern office working conditions with not only high standards of finish and flexibility, but also integrating environmental considerations, such issues and low operating costs in general are incorporated in the design of the building. The compact layout minimizes the heat loss from the building and secures close contact with the atmosphere of the winter garden, and also provides a beautiful view towards the riverbank for as many users as possible. For the exterior of the building an elegant vertical façade rhythm of local natural stone elements is created, giving the impression of the building as being one massive structure embracing a refined internal space of natural elements. Amazon Court is a high-tech and ground-breaking public space, arguably the next generation of the contemporary atrium. The atrium in Amazon Court is 32m across, seven-storey high and 2000m. in size – a highly distinctive court, involving an innovative intervention. The roof is designed using transparent lightweight material which, dispensing with heavy beams, is supported by slender rafters on the underside of ‘mullionless’ sheeting. Amazon Court integrates an inviting atmosphere and lends an elegant identity to the entire River City development on the background of the historical Karlín. The building is in harmony with its surroundings and blends in with the human scale of the City of Prague. Amazon Court Prague images / information from ING Media 230108 Prague Architects Amazon Court architect : Schmidt Hammer Lassen Amazon Court Prague - Building Information Address: Karlin, Prague, the Czech Republic Area: 24,000m Construction Period: 2007-08 Client: Europolis Engineer: Battle McCarthy/UK and RFR/France