“The HYBE project will offer a more intimate yet equally premium office building compared to the neighbouring Masaryk Building, featuring an exclusive façade that also draws on the historical character of the original post office building. “What’s more, we’re building it in collaboration with the architect of Masaryčka itself, Jakub Klaška, who was then still working for the renowned Zaha Hadid studio,” explains David Musil, CEO of Penta Real Estate, referring to the similar architectural style of both buildings. “We are seeing trends in the market such as low office vacancy rates coupled with a shortage of new developments. And there are also a number of companies that are growing rapidly, employing the best talent and offering high-value-added services. It is precisely these companies that are usually looking for prestigious offices in the city centre, and there has long been a shortage of such premises in Prague. “HYBE is therefore a project aimed at discerning tenants for whom looking after their staff is a top priority,” adds David Musil.

The winning design was created by architect Jakub Klaška, who previously worked at Zaha Hadid Architects. “Our design is based on respect for the history of this place. We translate selected architectural elements of the original building—such as cornices, the façade’s structure and distinctive textures—into a contemporary architectural language that harmonises with the surrounding scale and rhythm. “We are newly opening key elements, particularly the arched vaults on the ground floor, to the public through a transparent frontage,” says Jakub Klaška, founder of the architectural studio Klaška Ltd., of the winning design. A key aspect of the project is the preservation of the historic section of the former post office on Hybernská Street, including the listed features and the distinctive arches on the ground floor, which reflect the area’s original railway station architecture linked to the development of Masaryk Station. The new building will sensitively complement this historic layer in the form of an extension. The project will also feature outdoor terraces on almost every floor, which is quite rare in the centre of Prague. The ground floor of the building will feature premium dining options and a range of additional services.

“The market is clearly shifting towards the highest-quality buildings in the city centre. We can see that companies are prepared to invest in a state-of-the-art working environment that will help them attract and retain talent, whilst also creating attractive working conditions. HYBE is exactly this kind of property—a smaller, exclusive building offering high standards, excellent services and a unique location in the heart of Prague’s business district. We’re already seeing interest, even before a single spadeful of earth has been turned. That’s also why we”re building further premium offices not far from HYBE, at the site of former Transgas, as part of the Vinohradská 8 project,“ adds Jan Kalaš, Head of Leasing at Penta Real Estate.

The HYBE project will tie in directly with the parallel project to cover the tracks at Masaryk Station, which will create a new urban platform with direct, barrier-free access to the platform in the immediate vicinity of the new building. It thus complements the projects already completed in the area around Masaryk Station and represents a further investment of over a billion crowns by the company in the transformation of this part of central Prague. In the future, this area will also see a significant improvement in transport links thanks to the rail connection to Václav Havel Airport, and will naturally link the historic centre with the developing areas towards Florenc, where Penta Real Estate will build the brand-new Florenc 21 district in the coming years. This project, one of the largest regeneration schemes in the centre of Prague, will span the arterial highway and connect currently separated parts of the city through new development, offering a mix of residential units, offices, shops and high-quality public spaces.