Our plan was to design and build a comprehensive neighbourhood where citizens will find everything they need for a happy and fulfilling life. It will cater for businesspeople, families with children, and active singles.
The Nový Rohan grounds used to be an island on the Vltava. Today, only its name remains. The Rohan and Libeň Islands were joined into one and attached to Karlín and Maniny when the Vltava riverbed was being engineered in the 1920s.
As many as 280 boats were loaded and unloaded in the Karlín river port each year. Sailing and steam boats would bring in colonial goods, making Rohanský Island Prague’s link to the overseas world. Its rapid development transformed the neighbourhood into a promenade with restaurants that hosted concerts and theatre shows in summertime. We want to revive this part of the glorious past through a connection to the vibrant part of Karlín where new bistros, restaurants and venues become renowned or legendary overnight.
There have also been sad periods in the history of this neighbourhood. In the war year of 1942, Czech and Moravian bells confiscated by the Nazis were shipped from Rohanský Island to Hamburg to be remade into weapons in German factories. As many as 9,801 bells were thus forcefully ‘silenced’ in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia.
We decided to commemorate this sad part of our history and transform it into a positive symbol of hope. The practice of naming bells in Bohemia dates back to the Middle Ages. Usually, the bells were named after the saints to whom they were dedicated. This was believed to give them protection and sacred power which they would spread further. In memory of this tradition, the Nový Rohan residential buildings are named after the saints whose names were given to the bells confiscated in wartime. The bells are also seen as a glue that holds society together, and as symbols of memory, traditional values and spiritual connection.
One of the goals of Initiative #9801 was to create a memorial bell to commemorate the cultural loss of the bells confiscated from Czech and Moravian bell towers during World War II. A new bell weighing exactly 9,801 kilograms was cast, thanks to a public fundraiser, for which we were one of the biggest donors, with the central idea being ‘a new bell with one kilogram of weight for each bell taken away’. This bell represents all the bells destroyed and fuses their silenced sounds into one strong, vibrant voice. This symbol of both a violently interrupted historical continuum and a future hope will be suspended on an outdoor structure in the urban park on Rohanský Island.
Several architectural studios have designed the residential buildings in Nový Rohan to ensure that their appearances are diverse while the concepts underpinning their design mesh. The designs of the Czech studios LOXIA, UNIT, KAAMA and under-construction, as well as the renowned Slovenian studio Bevk Perović arhitekti won the architectural competition.
Good-quality public space is one of the defining traits of a compact city. Hence, the design solution will provide a free passage through the courtyards all the way to the bike path, river, and the future Maniny metropolitan park.
„We at LOXIA are convinced that only a good team of people can put out a good project. I believe this is what we have achieved here. Nový Rohan will make a Prague quarter so alluring that it will attract not only those who work and live there, but also the seekers of fun, great cuisine, or peaceful moments for resting or sports. The diversity of the individual houses’ architectural designs will enhance this. We are honoured to be a part of it.”
„In our work, we place maximum emphasis on residential quality and the denizen friendliness of the new houses. To us, a home extends beyond the flat’s threshold – it also comprises the house’s living space, the shared courtyard and a nearby park. This is why our goal is to create places that will make you feel happy coming home.”
„It has been 200 years since the foundation of Karlín. A lot has changed since then, but one thing remains – Karlín is a good place for living. It is a synonym for a genuine city. We were pleased when J&T Real Estate invited us to take part in the Nový Rohan project. We used contemporary architectural means to build on the values of old Karlín, and we believe future citizens will appreciate our effort by working and living in ,new Karlín’.”
„We designed the building that faces the river as tall as we could to maximise the views. By contrast, the horizontal structure offers a simple architectural expression. Both, however, speak the same language. They are united by the uniform, light-grey colours of the façades and the colourful superstructure of the horizontal house. The colours permeate the entrance areas, lobbies and corridors and make apartment owners feel at home even before opening their own apartment doors. This concept is very much the essence of our work.”
„For Nový Rohan, we tried to design a new block of buildings with a strong character using a bold and attractive colour scheme and precisely textured façades. The layout of the residential units in both of our buildings is simple, yet exceptionally efficient and elaborate, with central cores and corridors. Apartments are positioned so that the larger ones are closer to the river, command great views and are situated in the quieter part of the entire site. Smaller flats are situated closer to the centre of the new development.”
Easy transport connections in any direction using not only public transport are a great benefit of the project. The Invalidovna metro station and tram stops are just a few steps away from the new quarter. Cycling will be easy too. The backbone bike path leading along the Vltava connects the centre of Prague with the suburbs. The new HolKa footbridge enables residents to walk to Holešovice in a matter of minutes.
Nový Rohan users will certainly appreciate the proximity of educational facilities to be built as part of the project. The accessibility of such facilities will enhance the convenience and efficiency of day-to-day life. Having schools nearby fosters connections within the community and social bonds.
The linking of Rohanský Island with Prague’s backbone bike path will bring multiple benefits, including improved cycling access to the area, an extended bike path network in Prague, support for green mobility and transport, and enhanced attraction of the location for leisure and tourist purposes.
Space dedicated to children will obviously form a natural part of Nový Rohan. This will be where families and neighbours can meet and get to know each other. A children’s playground is not just a simple utility element – it is a symbol of the pleasant and active lifestyle that our residential space offers.
A new metropolitan park will be created on more than 56 hectares of land right next to Nový Rohan. It will be designed by the team that wins an architectural and landscaping competition organised by the Prague Institute of Planning and Development. It will take both professional and personal lives full circle, offering an opportunity to take a walk in the park on the way from work, play sports, have a cup of coffee or a drink, take a walk to the river, and go back home.
For convenient parking, several levels of underground parking will be prepared under the Vincent, Prokop and Barbora buildings. Each parking space will be prepared to fit a wall box at any time ‒ not just as part of client changes. In effect, Nový Rohan could be a 100 per cent electro-mobile. Handy cellar cubicles offered as an option with each apartment will enhance the convenience for residents.
As part of the project, J&T REAL ESTATE is also preparing office buildings with shops and service establishments. Sign up using the form below to receive all information about the beginning of the lease of this office and retail space.
