Quadrio, Mixed-use building in New Town, Prague, Czech Republic
Quadrio is a modern mixed-use building in central Prague that houses retail shops, office spaces, and restaurants across multiple levels. The complex combines commercial and office functions within an integrated structure designed for daily foot traffic and business activity.
The site held the houses U Bílého lva, U Bílé boty and U Černého koně, later replaced by a single-storey Tesco and a metro entrance. Archaeological research before construction uncovered Gothic cellars, Jewish gravestones and traces of early medieval settlement; half the Gothic cellars kept listed status, forcing the developer to cut underground parking capacity. Construction began in 2012, the Národní třída metro station opened on 1 July, and the shopping centre opened on 31 October 2014. The project, first called Copa centrum, was renamed Quadrio in 2013.
The name Quadrio refers to the building's shape and its four functions: shopping, work, housing and leisure. Inside, sculptures by Maxim Velčovský recall the historic houses U Bílého lva, U Bílé boty and U Černého koně that once stood on the site.
The building connects directly to public transportation networks and provides multiple entrances for easy access. Interior elevators and stairs allow visitors to move comfortably between different levels throughout the complex.
The kinetic sculpture of Franz Kafka's head stands outside, next to the complex, not inside: 42 moving stainless-steel layers form the face, 10.6 metres tall, by artist David Černý, paid for by the investor at 30 million crowns. Inside, Maximus Velčovský's sculptures of a white lion and a black horse recall the historic houses that once stood here.
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