The Kotva department store is a unique example of Czech architecture from the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was the first department store built in Prague after 1950. The design was created by architects Věra and Vladimír Machonin. With its intricate spatial layout, the building fits seamlessly into the diverse structures at the border between Prague’s Old and New Towns. The large volume required for the project is cleverly concealed within the honeycomb-like floor plan, allowing it to fill the maximum available lot space without overwhelming its surroundings. The exterior cladding, made from pre-rusted steel sheets resistant to further corrosion, stands out sharply against the surrounding buildings. Its dark colour, interspersed with relatively few windows, further helps minimise the visual impact of the building’s size. Věra Machoninová — Vladimír Machonin Prior Kotva Department Store, Prague, 1970—1975 náměstí Republiky 8, Praha 1 – Staré Město In the fall of 1969, the Office of the Chief Architect announced one of Prague’s last open anonymous competitions for what would become the Kotva department store. A suitable location for a full-range department store, the first of its kind since the opening of Bílá labuť in 1939, had been sought for several years. The final plan called for a central department store on Senovážné náměstí Square and three smaller ones in bustling commercial hubs. The site near náměstí Republiky (Republic Square) was deemed the most suitable for the first building. The articulated allotment, located between two neighbourhoods with height regulations, and the vast area specified in the competition brief required an innovative approach. The Machonins opted for a hexagonal module with a 14.2-meter span and central support, which also helped reduce the structural height of the floors. They managed to break up the massive volume and “create an architectural scale using miniaturised structural elements that matched the intimacy of the historic surroundings without imitating its forms”. The free composition allowed the building to respond to the varying heights of neighbouring structures with setbacks and terraces while maintaining the concept of open interior spaces. The demand for quick construction led the investor to contract foreign suppliers. The Swedish company SIAB won the tender, guaranteeing both the completion deadline and the $22 million budget. However, they insisted on modifying the structural system and producing the implementation design – the originally designed slender steel structure was replaced with reinforced concrete columns, but the Machonins substituted the column heads with slanted braces, exposing the concrete slab above them. The prefabricated parts were manufactured by SIAB in Sweden and transported daily to the construction site by trucks. During several trips to Stockholm, Věra Machoninová designed the building’s façade, choosing Finnish anodised aluminium panels. The vertical segmentation and dark colour of these panels helped to further diminish the building’s massive volume. Věra Machoninová (b. 1928) Graduated from the Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague (1952). She worked at Stavoprojekt in Prague (1952–1956), which later became the Prague Regional Design Institute (1956–1966), at the Association of Project Studios – Alfa Studio in Prague (1967–1971) and the Prague City Design Institute for Construction (1971–1990). In 1991, she established her own office, Atelier Alfa. She received the Grand Prix from the Czech Architects’ Guild for Lifetime Achievement (2006), the Honours of the Czech Chamber of Architects (2014), and the Ministry of Culture Prize for her contribution to architecture (2017). Vladimír Machonin (1920—1990) Graduated from the Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague (1947). He worked as an assistant at the Institute of Architectural Theory at the same university in Prague (1947–1950), at the Study and Typification Institute in Prague (1950), Stavoprojekt in Prague (1951–1959), which later became the Regional Design Institute (1959–1966), at the Association of Project Studios – Alfa Studio in Prague (1967–1971), and the Prague City Design Institute for Construction – Studio 1 (1971–1990). Excerpted from the book Architecture 58–89 Publication concept, editor, author of discussions: Vladimir 518 OD Kotva | Foto: Prague City Tourism