Developers were treated like public enemy number 1 in Prague’s last municipal elections. This time around, candidates are talking about the difficulties faced by investors who want to build new apartments.
Taking things one step further, Prague 5’s mayor Petr Stuchlik has now proposed an architecturally ambitious residential/infrastructure project. Having analyzed the dilapidated Liben bridge and the controversy over whether to reconstruct it or build a new one, Stuchlik has come forward with a rather unique solution: build a new bridge with cars, trams and pedestrians going through it, and build a new apartment building for teachers and fire fighters placed on top of it.
He suggests making luxury units out of the flats on the top floors to help offset the costs of the rest of the building. He was not asked whether potential lending banks would approve loans for this type of business model.
“When I was thinking with friends about what Liben bridge should look like, the purpose it actually serves, I was glad that one of my friends mentioned that he knew architect Pizinger who had dreamed years ago about a residential bridge,” said Stuchlik.
