At the intersection of Vinohradská and Jana Želivského streets stands the high-rise building of Palác Vinohrady, better known to the residents of Prague as Strojimport. This former administrative building of the foreign trade enterprise was built between 1967 and 1971, based on designs by Zdeněk Kuna, Zdeněk Stupka and Olivier Honke-Houfek, with interiors designed by Bohuslav Rychlink. The chief inspiration came from high-rise buildings in Germany and the USA. The structure has 18 above-ground and 2 underground floors, with a total height of approximately 68 metres. The framework consists of a steel skeleton with reinforced concrete cores and combined ceilings. Apart from the pyramid-shaped extension with telecommunication equipment, the building has remained just as it was originally designed; the interior has also been authentically preserved. Zdeněk Kuna — Zdeněk Stupka — Olivier Honke-Houfek PZO Strojimport in Prague, 1964—1971 Vinohradská 184, Praha 3– Vinohrady In 1964, Zdeněk Kuna was tasked with designing a building for the Strojimport foreign trade enterprise (PZO). The chosen site was in Vinohrady, specifically at the location where Vinohradská Street slopes down toward the Strašnice neighbourhood. It was close to a land plot for which Kuna, along with Kamil Ossendorf, had once designed the Stavoprojekt building, which was never built. Familiar with the area, Kuna’s work began with an overall urban study of the location, which was intended to house a compound of high-rise buildings. Among these, the dominant position was to be occupied by the Ferromet foreign trade enterprise. But Strojimport was constructed first, with the investor requesting a building befitting the importance of an institution dealing in foreign trade. The resulting project was unique for its time. A simple tower on a rectangular base, intended for offices, attached to a low section containing a dining hall. The Italian company FEAL, specialising in steel structures and light cladding, carried out the construction. The result was a building in the spirit of Miesian architecture – “less is more” and “the façade as a lightweight curtain wall.” The outer shell is serene, with consistent elements – just windows and parapets, no variation, and a uniform expression throughout the perimeter. Only the top floors, housing technical equipment, feature different cladding. The first two fully glazed floors are slightly set back behind the colonnade of the load-bearing structure. The adjacent pavilion is also fully glazed, except for the rooftop extension. This building, located in a visually important part of Prague, was a promise of future quality not only in architecture but also in construction craftsmanship. Zdeněk Kuna (1926–2019) Zdeněk Kuna graduated from the Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering at the Czech Technical University in Prague (1950). He worked at the Regional Design Institute in Prague until 1989, first as a designer, then as head of the studio from 1963, and finally as the director from 1974. He also served as a professor of architecture at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague from 1972 to 1990. Kuna was a member of the Union of Architects of Czechoslovakia and served as its chairman from 1982 to 1989. In 1984, he was awarded the title of Meritorious Artist. After 1990, he established his own architectural studio. He was a member of the Czech Chamber of Architects. Excerpted from the book Architecture 58–89 Publication concept, editor, author of discussions: Vladimir 518 Strojimport | source: BigBoss