FEET ON THE GROUND – HEAD IN THE CLOUDS
The Mrakodrap Ostrava residential project revitalizes a building from the 1960s. What remains of the original building?
The complete load-bearing skeleton of the original building remains, which the builders will strengthen with additional wrapping and reinforcement. An extension with stairs and two elevators will be connected to the skeleton, as well as fire ventilation, hydrants, and dry pipes for fire intervention. On the outside of the building, a new support system of horizontal spans and vertical columns will be created, which, together with the new core, will form a solid structure based on a new foundation in the ground. This stabilizing structure will allow balconies to be added at the corners of the building, connecting the interior to the exterior in individual units.
Wouldn’t it have been cheaper and safer to demolish the building and build a new one?
Reconstruction allows to preserve the historical and visual character of the site and the scale of the existing buildings, but at the same time offers space for the incorporation of modern elements and trends according to the clients’ requirements. Reconstruction also focuses on ensuring the structural and operational safety of the building in accordance with current standards. The building with its impressive height of 68 meters is a landmark of the city, and instead of demolishing it, it’s better to use its potential and give it a new function. This approach also reflects the idea of sustainability—the old doesn’t have to be automatically replaced by the new. It can be transformed.
How will the static stability of Mrakodrap be ensured? Can unwanted vibrations or movements of the building happen?
The static stability of the building is a major element of the project and we are being very careful to ensure that everything works to the satisfaction of the future occupants. We’re eliminating the movement or vibration of the building by adding a new self-supporting structure on the exterior. This will connect to the existing skeleton and, together with the new communication core, will form a solid stabilizing “cage.” This structure will be anchored into the new foundations, ensuring the overall rigidity of the building.
Does Mrakodrap Ostrava stand on a mined area?
Although the existing building is located in a Protected Resource Area and there are several secured mines in the vicinity, the foundations of the building don’t interfere with the bedrock. In addition, the building is further stabilized by new micropiles as foundations for the supporting structure of the stabilization cage.
Did the original structure contain asbestos or other health hazardous materials? Can it be guaranteed that they will be removed? And how?
The original façade cladding contains boletic panels, which were commonly used on buildings from the 1960s and 1970s. Asbestos is indeed present in these. Other sources of asbestos in the building are in fire seals on the original internal wiring. We will remove the aforementioned boiler panels and all the original pipework from the building during the conversion and replace them with modern, non-hazardous materials. We will then dispose of the waste from the building in accordance with strict safety regulations so that there is no risk of contamination in the surrounding structure.
How will low ceilings be addressed?
Of course, the clear height of the rooms in Mrakodrap correspond to the current standards for living spaces (2.5 m). To enhance the feeling of airiness in the interiors, the architects proposed to glaze the building to the height of the entire floor. This concept visually opens up the space and floods the rooms with plenty of natural light. Between the individual apartments, the architects placed firebreaks, which serve both to stabilize the building and as natural shading.
How will parking in Mrakodrap Ostrava be addressed?
Next to Mrakodrap, a parking garage with 2 underground and 3 above-ground floors and a total of 185 parking spaces and 8 motorbike parking spaces will be built. There will also be an additional 71 outdoor parking spaces in front of the parking garage.
How will the irrigation of the balconies be ensured to actually create the advertised “vertical garden”?
All planters on the balconies will be connected to a central irrigation system with automatic control. This system is successfully used in several residential projects in the Czech Republic. Centralized control ensures that the plants will always have enough water and nutrients.
How else is the building sustainable?
Sustainability is one of the fundamental pillars of this project. Reconstruction instead of demolition reduces the environmental burden. Preserving the supporting skeleton saves materials and minimizes construction waste. Other features such as green balconies, efficient energy use, and an irrigation system contribute to environmentally friendly living.
Who is the investor?
Behind the First Skyscraper s.r.o. company, the investor of the building, stand the reputable firms BBP Stavby and KAMI PROFIT, who bring their many years of experience in construction and development in the Czech Republic, Slovenia and abroad to the project.
