The controversial and highly anticipated Top Tower project, designed by renowned sculptor David Černý and architect Tomáš Císař, has received final zoning approval from the city of Prague. A provocative mixed-use skyscraper, standing at 135 meters, will be the Czech Republic’s tallest building and a focal point in the city’s Nové Butovice district, redefining the city’s skyline with its distinctive shipwreck motif and climate change message.
Top Tower Approved to Become Czechia’s Tallest Building
Against the conventional high-rise architecture, the Top Tower announced in 2019 offers a monumental sculptural intervention dominated by Černý’s signature sculptural work. A visual narrative of a colossal, rusted sculpture of a shipwreck was crafted at the top of the tower, creating a dramatic post-apocalyptic design. This sculptural element is directly conceived as a powerful symbol of global climate disasters and environmental decay.
Tomáš Císař has described the ship as a connective element between levels and public terraces: “The boat becomes a connecting living element between the square-corso level, roof garden, and viewing points at the highest level.” The bold form of the staggering structure features the raw red-colored steel of the sculpture that contrasts with the glass and steel of the Top Tower, designed to serve both the public and residents.
Facade and Spatial Expression
The mixed-use development of the tower includes ground and lower floors for retail and services, middle levels for workplace and cultural spaces, upper floors for 250 rental apartments, and community areas as a thoughtful collective model of the proposed layout. The striking feature of the tower will be a public observation deck located within the shipwreck sculpture at the highest level, open to the public and community, and offering panoramic views of the city.
The project’s lifecycle and materials were planned to reduce carbon footprint with the integration of green spaces and native planting into the design. The proposed plan focuses on energy efficiency, achieving LEED goals, and rainwater reuse systems, and considers sustainable goals.
135-metre tower set to surpass Brno’s AZ Tower
Developed by Trigema, the project has sparked controversial debate since its inception; while critics are concerned with its presence within Prague’s historical landscape, developers argue that its location in a modern business district makes it contextually relevant. The total height of the Top Tower would be 135 meters, overtaking the AZ Tower in Brno (111 meters) to become the Czech Republic’s tallest building.
Fusing a High-rise with monumental art
Top Tower presents a large-scale public sculpture with a dense mixed-use development that sits at the intersection of architecture, art, and social spaces. It provides a bold form for Prague, a city often defined by its historical architecture. This project raises important questions for contemporary urban spaces, and with planning approvals, it has moved from a speculative concept to a deliberately planned strategy for development.
As part of the development to improve local infrastructure and connectivity, the developer has contributed 75.7 million Czech crowns. In the Czech architectural narrative, the hybrid sculptural art of the Top Tower challenges the conventional notions and directly engages with environmental and social themes.
Top tower Project details
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Architects and Artists: Tomáš Císař (Black n’ Arch), David Černý (sculptor)
Developer: Trigem
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