The site for the construction of the new Prague 12 City Hall is located on Generála Šišky Street, near Sofijské Square. From an urban planning perspective, the architects not only designed the City Hall itself but also considered the broader context of the area and, in particular, the public space that will be created around the new City Hall.

The city hall will be the dominant structure on Generála Šišky Street. The building consists of three simple volumes—“cubes”—aligned along this street. The main facade faces west toward all arriving and approaching visitors. In front of the main facade, we are creating a suitably large paved forecourt that will allow the facade to stand out sufficiently. The main facade, with its projecting, illuminated columned façade featuring a clock, is what defines the town hall. It also distinguishes it from a classic administrative building—which, with its numerous smaller or larger offices, every town hall essentially is to some extent. We believe that the town hall building should be dignified, functional, and well-thought-out, yet restrained in its design, avoiding the exaggerated impression of a mansion or palace built with public funds. The town hall should also be a bright and well-organized building. Thanks to the new town hall, the various departments within Prague 12 will finally be brought together under one roof, so people will no longer have to search for them at seven different locations. In addition to the departments, the new town hall building will also offer other spaces for residents.

The two-story entrance hall, featuring a reception desk, a bistro, a café, and several small retail units, forms the heart of the building. This entrance hall extends the public space into the building’s interior and serves everyone who visits the office. It will serve as a meeting place and a pleasant spot to spend time before or after a meeting. The entrance hall is designed to welcome visitors, seat them comfortably, and give them the opportunity to have a cup of coffee, enjoy a snack, wait for a meeting, meet up with someone, do some shopping, make copies of documents they’ve brought with them, or simply fill out a form in peace. Our ambition is to create a space that will make people’s otherwise ordinary trip to city hall a more pleasant experience.

The new city hall also offers a large multifunctional hall where, in addition to regular city council meetings, other cultural events can take place, such as concerts, dance classes, small theater performances, as well as exhibitions, fashion shows, and various fairs or markets. Adjacent to this hall, across the foyer, is a restaurant that will serve both city hall employees and the public. There are plans to allow people to rent both the hall and the restaurant space for other activities—such as wedding receptions, celebrations, conferences, or even homeowners’ association meetings.

On the top floor of the western “cube” is a new ceremonial hall with access to a large rooftop terrace. This space, too, is not limited to weddings; it can host many other events, ranging from ceremonies welcoming new citizens to chamber concerts, art openings, and exhibitions. The new city hall is designed in line with current trends in public administration and anticipates a gradual shift from in-person visits to electronic communication. The same trend is expected in the way documents are circulated and archived.