We have been working on the project since early 2017 but the operator for the newbuild, 523 key, 5 star hotel in Prague has been a closely guarded secret. This week however, Hard Rock International has announced that it has signed the deal with our client EP Real Estate to operate the hotel now under construction alongside the Sparta Prague stadium on a site overlooking the Letenské sady (the Letna Park) to the North of the historic Old Town.
Fuse is responsible for the interior design for the entire 600,000 sqft of internal space. We are also providing lighting, audio-visual and wayfinding design and cost consultancy through a series of sub-consultancies. Technical Arts is providing the lighting and AV expertise, Momentum is the wayfinding sub-consultant and Emmaus Consulting is providing the cost advice on the fit-out. We have developed an excellent working relationship with shell architects, Pelcak and Partner, of Brno in the South-East of the Czech Republic and with Gleeds‘ Prague team who are project managers and lead cost consultants.
Other members of the multi-national design team include Tricon (London) who are advising on foodservice and laundry design, procurement agents Parker International (Miami), art consultants Kevin Barry Fine Art (Santa Monica). Structural design, mechanical and electrical engineering, fire safety and acoustics are all provided by local Czech consultants acting as sub-consultants to Pelcak.
Work on an initial enabling works package began on site during the summer. Existing buildings on the site are being cleared and a new road junction is being built. The superstructure is currently out to tender. The hotel is due to open in 2023.
The new building is arranged over 3 basement levels and 7 above-ground floors. As well as the 523 bedrooms and suites, there are substantial convention facilities including a 20,000sqft multi-purpose ballroom and – on the top floor, a full service spa with pool and gym; a spectacular sky bar and signature steakhouse restaurant, all enjoying stunning views towards Prague Castle.
On the ground floor, the substantial lobby houses a cocktail bar, the customary Rock Shop, main, VIP and group check-ins, the ‘Constant Grind’ coffee shop and a sports bar with giant TV screens which will have memorabilia linked to the Sparta football team rather than the music memorabilia from Hard Rock’s amazing collection which will adorn the rest of the building.
The lobby is also linked to a large, external landscaped area known as the ‘Woodstock Lawn which can be used for exhibitions and other events. It includes a raised platform that doubles as a stage and is linked by large elevators to the loading dock below so even cars can be lifted into the space.
From the lobby, a 17m high atrium descends to the basement levels below a huge skylight which floods the lower floors with daylight. Its backdrop is the enormous ‘feature wall’. Extending to over 500sqm, the feature wall is a unique physical manifestation of a sound wave – a piece of music solidified. Hundreds of fins rise from the basement floor to the ground floor ceiling. As they do so, they twist to reveal 2 sound waves which ‘snake’ across the lobby and the pre-function space below.
Within the sound waves, hundreds of LED strips are built into the rear face of the translucent wall. Together, these form giant ‘graphic equaliser’ that listens to the music in the lobby and actually displays a visual interpretation of the music in real time.
When inactive during daylight hours, the LED lines are completely invisible. When active at night, the dancing lines of the sound wave appear from nowhere to bring the wall to life and provide a unique and dynamic backdrop to the entrance experience.
The feature wall incorporates what will probably be the world’s largest memorabilia cabinet – which extends the full 17m from basement floor to ground floor ceiling.
The top floor of the hotel will have some of the best views in Prague. Not only does the building overlook the huge Letenská pláň park, but has stunning views towards Prague Castle to the South-West. The facilities take full advantage of these views.
The pool (opposite, bottom left), spa (opposite top right) and gymnasium occupy the east end of level 06. The pool will operate as part of the spa offering during daylight hours but at night, it can be added to the spectacular sky bar (which occupies the central position on the top floor) for parties and other events. The poolside cabanas become private booths for entertaining. There is even provision for a poolside stage for live music events. A large external terrace enlarges the space further.
At the west end of the floor, and enjoying the best views of Prague Castle, is the steakhouse (opposite bottom right). It has its own private dining room enclosed by giant, glass wine racks and other features include a meat ageing display with walls of back-lit Himalayan salt. Surrounded on 3 sides by large external terraces, it can spill outside during the summer months to increase capacity.
The Fusiliers are currently busy with the detailed construction drawings for the fit out having completed the detailed design stage in October. By next Spring, around 3,000 drawings will document the fit-out in minute detail (not counting the lighting, AV and internal signage!)
In the meantime, two sample rooms are almost finished so the team will be back in Prague next week to review the construction with the client and the Hard Rock operational team.
