On Friday, 16 August, the last cell in the embankment wall was fitted with glass entrance. At the same time, total refurbishment of twenty cells on Hořejší and Rašínovo embankments that started last December is now nearly complete. The refurbishment cost nearly 174 million CZK. Visitors can look forward to new all-year cafes, bars, and art studios as well as public toilets. The establishments should open in September.

Refurbishment works on the embankments are nearly finished after several months. The last of six “glass lenses” has been installed. The unique rotating windows will server as unusual entrance portals to the newly refurbished cells on Rašínovo embankment, connecting the space inside the wall with the promenade outside. The new look of the embankment was designed by architect Petr Janda and Brainwork Studio.

“These are the world's largest rotating windows of their kind, manufactured specially for the Czech capital. They have been delivered from Thailand and special technologies were needed to fit them in place. The windows will open automatically to allow passage for prams and wheelchairs (with some assistance),” says Jan Chabr, Prague City Councilor responsible for municipal asset management.

“The original lens-shaped windows took three months to produce. Their transport by ship all the way from Thailand to Hamburg and up river Elbe and Vltava was extremely demanding. The cast acryl windows had to be stored in special transport boxes. They were installed using a crane with a unique sucker technology,” explains Jan Nejedlý, embankment management coordinator, TRADE CENTRE PRAHA, who has overseen the technical part of the embankment revitalization project.

A total of twenty cells on Hořejší and Rašínovo embankments have been refurbished at a cost of approximately 87 million CZK for each embankment. The project took 19 months to complete. Technical and infrastructure preparations lasted from February to November 2018, followed by construction works. Only a few last details remain to be finished and new tenants should be able to start moving in as of September.

Photo:: Petr Janda