Cells in the wall of the river embankment
Prague
[ 570 ]
accomplishment
2018–2010
investor
Hlavní město Praha (TRADE CENTRE PRAHA)
architect
Ing. arch. Petr Janda
type of construction
Automatic glass pivot doors of elliptical shape, windows
general contractor
Rekomont
project volume of the facade
0–1,9 mil. EUR
The project of reconstruction of the cells (literally dungeons) in the embankment wall (formerly ice tentacles and warehouses) took place on three Prague embankments and was the largest post-revolutionary Prague investment in public space, the first of its kind and socio-cultural overlap. Cells do not create classic interiors, they work with a logic defining cells as gulfs of outer space with maximum contact with the floodplain and the river. Today they serve as cafes, studios, galleries and public toilets with modular diversity and equipment according to each tenant.
Sipral supplied the glazing of the pivot doors in the cells, which was preceded by the production of a technical sample. Subsequently, solid steel frames, rotating steel wings were installed and organic glass elliptical lenses up to 7 centimeters thick and between 505 and 510 centimeters in diameter and weighing approximately 1.6 tons were installed. The most demanding part of the reconstruction was the transportation of the giant glass lenses and their subsequent installation. This is a completely bespoke and unique solution – each cell has a different size and shape. The process of installing the largest glass in cell No. 6 took a full 10.5 hours.
The doors are opened using sensors and an electric drive located below floor level. Each door is equipped with five sensors so that it opens and closes quickly and prevents collisions with visitors. When opened, the slanted axis enables sufficient entry space for strollers and wheelchairs. The door has several positions in which it can be fixed or function as an automatically opening door.
