Skanska has started building a new district worth billions of CZK in Prague's Malešice

Prague - The company Skanska Residential has begun construction of a new neighborhood in Malešice, Prague, where 1,000 apartments are expected to be created. The total investment in the project, named Habitat, is projected to be in the higher billions of Czech crowns. The company's spokesperson Jan Pohorský informed ČTK today, but did not provide more specific figures. According to a press release available to ČTK, the first of five phases will cost a total of 851 million crowns. It is expected to be completed in 2027, with the entire project finished within ten years.

The Habitat residential complex will be built on a 70,000 square meter brownfield site in the northeastern part of Prague 10 along Černokostelecká Street. The conceptual architect of the entire project is the Chapman Taylor studio. They have previously worked in Prague on projects such as the W Hotel at Wenceslas Square, Flow Building at the corner of the same square and Opletalova Street, as well as offices for Scott.Weber in Holešovice.

"Habitat is a typical modern neighborhood that will be among the most advanced of its time, incorporating the latest trends in modern housing," said the project's chief architect from Chapman Taylor, Filip Pokorný. In addition to some ecological elements and sustainability certifications, the project, according to Skanska, responds to the increasing demand for recreational areas. The greenery will be complemented by a bike path and playgrounds for children. A community garden and gazebos will also be part of it.

The first phase will consist of 125 apartments and six non-residential units. The majority of the offerings will feature layouts of 2+kk and 3+kk, but there will also be smaller 1+kk units or larger 4+kk apartments on the highest floors. Each apartment will have a loggia, terrace, or balcony. The underground floor will include storage units and a bike storage room with a stroller storage area. The project will also include 135 garage spaces.

Photovoltaic panels will be installed on the roofs, which, according to Skanska, will produce up to 31 megawatt-hours of energy per year. The building will also utilize so-called greywater, i.e., recycled wastewater. Additionally, there will be technology that conserves drinking water.

Besides Habitat Malešice, Skanska Residential is preparing additional apartments in Prague as part of other phases of projects such as Modřanský cukrovar, Albatros Kbely, in the Emil Kolben district in Vysočany, at Michelin Bakery, or is building a wooden structure in Radlice. Skanska Residential is a development company that falls under the Swedish construction group Skanska. The company has been active in the Czech residential market since 1997 and has built over 9,000 apartments in Prague to date.

According to an analysis by the development companies Skanska Residential, Trigema, and Central Group, in the first quarter of this year, developers sold 2,550 new apartments in Prague, which is 60 percent more year-on-year. This is also the highest number for the first three months of the year in the last 15 years. Higher interest was previously recorded only in the record second quarter of 2021. The average listed price of new apartments was 167,947 crowns per square meter. Thus, prices have increased by ten percent year-on-year and by 2.9 percent quarter-on-quarter. Skanska has already sold 60 percent of the apartments in the first phase of Habitat before completion.