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Danish architects to transform Prague's main railway station into Št'astný Hlavák (“Happy Hlavák”).

Danish studio Henning Larsen Architects has won the competition for the redevelopment of Prague’s main train station. The concept proposes a natural connection between Vrchlického Sady, the passenger hall, a new tram stop directly in front of the station, and the historic station building (Fantova Budova). The design emphasizes sustainability and micromobility and aims to enliven Vrchlického Sady. Henning Larsen Architects, a world leader in complex urban design, is part of the Danish Ramboll Group.

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The vision for Št'astný Hlavák is to welcome visitors to the city and provide a comfortable public space for residents and travelers. The design is dominated by a wooden roof structure that brings together the Vrchlický Sady area, the new passenger concourse, and the planned tram stop. The studio also divided Vrchlického Sady into three parts - a cultural zone, a "station square", and a zone for additional activities. The division will contribute to much better visibility throughout the area. The design also works to improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists and provides solutions for sustainable management of the area, for example through efficient stormwater management.

"The collaboration with sponsors during the competitive dialogue process from the beginning to the design process was excellent and we think the result speaks for itself. We are therefore proud to unveil a new gateway to the city that will warmly welcome residents and visitors alike. The beauty of the brief was its holistic nature, which challenged us to link the different areas into a cohesive whole. Together, we sought to best connect the urban space and create a unified and functional place. With this vision, we created a design that honors the values of the Fantova Building and the hall for arrivals and departures, and connects them to the park. Our ambition is for the new station to not only be a sustainable and functional mobility hub, but also to become part of people's everyday lives and a place where they meet and spend time. We are happy to contribute to the development of Prague," said Jacob Kurek, Global Market Director at Henning Larsen.

Št'astný Hlavák architecturally and urbanistically addresses the current issues of the area as a whole and responds to the needs of the individual stakeholders - the City of Prague, the Railway Administration, and the Transport Company of the Capital City of Prague. In connection with the planned calming of the arterial road, modifications to the entire area will improve the mobility of passengers and Prague residents, thanks to a new tram stop directly in front of the concourse and connections to Masaryk Station and other urban destinations.

The evaluation committee appreciated the proposal’s comprehensiveness and the coherence of the design for the entire area. The proposal opens up and brightens the concourse and improves the clarity and flow of passenger movement within it, which will prepare the concourse and the park for the expected increase in passenger numbers in the coming decades.

"What I appreciate most about the Danish studio's design is that it best addresses the problems and challenges of the site. It transforms a place that is unpopular with Prague citizens into a lively park and a dignified gateway to the city. At the same time, however, they are not afraid to admit that the park will be used much more intensively due to the increase in the number of travelers, and they have adapted the pedestrian routes to this reality. In addition, the proposal includes a number of new and attractive features for visitors, such as water features and outdoor cafés. It sensitively retains the iconic elements of the original design team's solution and brings them into a modern 21st century public space that we can be proud of. The result is a unique solution that elegantly and efficiently connects the concourse with the adjacent park," says Petr Hlaváček, Prague’s Deputy Mayor for Territorial Development.

Št'astný Hlavák will also include a new tram line that will run from the National Museum to Wilson and Washington Streets to the check-in hall and then along Opletalova Street to Bolzanova Street. This plan is included in the Prague Master Plan. 

"The main station has great potential that has not yet been exploited. The unattractive check-in hall hidden in the infamous Sherwood Park will no longer have all sorts of dark corners, and it will be more than just an impersonal transport terminal. It will be transformed into a full-fledged public space. We will also work to integrate the ring road more neatly and efficiently into the overall space, including building a new crosswalk directly in front of the historic Fantova Building. The victorious, visionary design will bring this forgotten gem of Prague architecture closer to the city and the people. In addition, a brand new tram line with a stop under the roof will run through the revitalized park. The ecological aspect of this key public transport hub will also be underlined by the fact that the basis of the entire transformation of the Main Station will be one of the largest wooden structures in the Czech Republic," says Prague’s Deputy Mayor for Transport, Zdeněk Hřib.

After this announcement of the winning proposal, contracts will be signed, and a transport study will be completed based on the requirements of the contracting authorities and the second round of participation activities with city residents and other interested parties. This will be followed by the preparation of the project documentation and its review for permitting. Implementation is expected to begin in 2028 and according to preliminary estimates, should cost approximately CZK 2 billion.

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