Czech developer PSN has begun construction works at the former Koh-i-noor factory site in the Vršovice district of Prague. The nearly two-hectare brownfield, which had been largely inaccessible to the public for decades, will be transformed into a mixed-use neighbourhood comprising approximately 600 residential units, 30 commercial spaces, new pedestrian routes and public green space. The project has been designed by Jakub Cigler Architekti, with total construction costs estimated at approximately three billion Czech crowns.
The site's history dates to 1902 and is closely associated with the Waldes company and later Koh-i-noor, whose products brought the Vršovice factory wide recognition. PSN acquired the site in 2018, at which point the condition of several buildings already required comprehensive revitalisation. "Koh-i-noor is a place that shaped Vršovice for decades, and we want to approach its history with respect. We did not want to create a closed residential complex, but to open up an area that is currently inaccessible and bring life back to it," said Max Skala, managing director of PSN. Pavel Citta, acquisitions specialist at PSN, added that the company spent nearly ten years preparing the project, "seeking a solution that would allow the site to be opened while preserving its character."
The first phase will offer 125 units in a reconstructed building on Vršovická street and nearly 220 in an adjacent new-build. Studios and two-room flats will predominate, with roughly a quarter of the offer consisting of larger family-sized units. Eight retail spaces will be included in the ground floor of this phase alone, with the full development eventually providing around 30 commercial units for shops, cafés, restaurants and services. New pedestrian connections between surrounding streets and a central piazzetta with greenery will open the previously closed block to the neighbourhood.
Architect Jakub Cigler described the approach to heritage: "Koh-i-noorka is a place with a strong historical memory, which we decided to preserve to a considerable extent. It was clear from the outset that we had to retain the hall and several other buildings including the factory chimney, which will preserve the genius loci of this place. The piazzetta, which connects through to Moskevská street, is an important part of the whole project and I hope it will prove to be the key to reviving the new Koh-i-noorka." The chimney, one of the most recognisable elements of the site, will be restored to its original height using a lightweight steel structure.
The revitalisation is being prepared in coordination with the Prague 10 municipal district and the City of Prague. "This part of Vršovice is undergoing dynamic change. I am convinced that the revitalisation of the site for housing, civic amenities and services will only add to that. I consider preserving the legacy of factory owner and art patron Mr Waldes and opening the Koh-i-noor block to people to be of the greatest importance," said Tomáš Pek, deputy mayor of Prague 10 and chair of the territorial development committee of the Prague City Assembly. Sales of the first phase are planned for early 2027, with the first residents expected to move in during the second half of 2029.
