Prague 186 00
Czech Republic
Focus is on recycling and restoring the building to its original quality
The Prague Institute of Planning and Development (IPR Prague) and the Center for Architecture and Metropolitan Planning (CAMP) have left their former headquarters in the modernist Prager’s Cubes ahead of the complex’s reconstruction. The project applies circular renovation principles, prioritising the reuse of materials while bringing the buildings closer to Karel Prager and Jiří Kadeřábek’s original design. At the end of the summer, IPR Prague will move to temporary premises in Holešovice. In autumn 2026, the new CAMP will open at a former boat repair workshop in Karlín, located at Pobřežní 20a.
The significance of Prager’s Cubes
The Prager’s Cubes are an important example of the ambition of Czechoslovak architecture in the 1970s. Karel Prager and Jiří Kadeřábek’s design and Prager’s unique structural concept were among the boldest in Czechoslovakia. The experimental construction of the three floating pavilions employed the GAMA modular building system—adapted prefabricated panels, parapets, partition walls and suspended ceilings. The result was a distinctive modernist complex ahead of its time.
However, after more than fifty years, the buildings no longer meet requirements for energy efficiency, fire safety, hygiene or technical equipment. The façades and roofs are poorly sealed, and thermal insulation is minimal. The reconstruction will bring the complex up to current standards while realizing some of Karel Prager’s unfulfilled visions, including opening the terrace on the roof of the base.
“For CAMP, this unique architecture became more than just a venue—the buildings themselves were the institution's only permanent exhibit. While everything else changed with each exhibition, the complex remained the one true constant,” says Štěpán Bärtl, Head of the Center for Architecture and Metropolitan Planning.
A circular reconstruction
This is the first circular renovation project carried out by a public contracting authority in the Czech Republic. Its principle is to retain and reuse as much of the existing structure and materials as possible.
The buildings will be dismantled in phases. Non-load-bearing structures, including plasterboard and masonry partitions, will be separated so that metal, gypsum and mineral components can be reused. Glass panes will be removed from aluminium frames on site, while other materials will be sorted into ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Part of the steel load-bearing structure will be dismantled symmetrically from the upper floors downward to maintain an even load on the building.
“The buildings will be left with bare walls and empty rooms. The subsequent dismantling of elements is being handled with extreme care. No one is coming in with a hammer to smash the interior; everything is being carefully disassembled so that it can be potentially reused,” says Ondřej Boháč, Director of the Prague Institute of Planning and Development.
The work follows a pre-reconstruction audit by the Czech Technical University in Prague (ČVUT), which assessed the reuse potential of materials including steel, concrete, bricks and glass. IPR Prague is also cooperating with Cyrkl, a company experienced in circular construction.
Closer to Prager’s original vision and more energy-efficient
The reconstruction, designed by the IXA studio, includes a complete renovation of the exterior and modernisation of the building systems. Architecturally valuable features, including original wall and floor tiles, light fixtures and door handles, will be preserved. The surrounding area will be transformed into a public park with new recreational spaces, based on a winning concept by landscape architecture studio Land05.
The complex’s energy infrastructure will be upgraded. Measures will include ground-source heat pumps powered by deep geothermal boreholes, rooftop photovoltaic panels, a significant reduction in primary energy demand through modern technologies and improvements to the building envelope, and rainwater collection and reuse across the site.
The renovation is expected to take three years and cost CZK 1.4 billion, with most funding provided by the Prague City Hall. The construction contract was signed last summer by representatives of PORR, Metrostav DIZ and IPR Prague.
For more information about the ongoing reconstruction and CAMP’s summer program visit here.
Location info
The Prager’s Cubes complex (CAMP's and IPR Prague's former headquarters) is undergoing a complete reconstruction and is currently closed. We are moving the summer program outdoors to the streets until the end of September. From autumn, you’ll find CAMP at its new address at Pobřežní 20a in Karlín.
