Keystone Office Building
This office building stands at a kind of gateway situation at a prominent situation in Karlín, a district of Prague that is undergoing rapid change, at the corner of Pobřežni Street and Šaldova Street. The ground floor, taller than the other levels, contains shops and showrooms while the upper floors are occupied by office space.
The external appearance of the building takes up geometrical themes found in Czech Cubism at the start of the 20th century. The volumetric concept of the façade creates an ambivalently legible network of forms oriented in different directions. The double-layered façade not only produces a sculptural outer skin, but also improves the performance of the windows in terms of thermal and acoustic insulation.
Through the contrast to the exterior the impressive entrance hall establishes a certain formal tension. Here high-quality materials and expensive surfaces are used. The hall is clad half with chrome steel and half with terrazzo and stucco lustro.
Dates:
direct commission: 2007 (study commission: 2007–2008)
planning: 2008–2010
start of construction: April 2010
completion: April 2012
Costs:
CHF 24 Mio.
Space program
three basement floors for parking showroom / sales area and extra small saleroom on the ground floor 1st–7th floor for office space
Size
gross floor area: 11’600 m2 (incl. parking)
ground floor: 750 m2 (shop floor)
1st–7th floor: 6’500 m2 (office space)
Location
corner of Pobřežni and Šaldova street, Karlín, 18600 Prague, Czech Republic
