The warehouse services will be replaced, the legacy remains

The Ferra, later Ferona, wholesale warehouses for metallurgical material were established in 1929 and at 15 thousand square meters were then the largest in Czechoslovakia. They could hold 2,000 wagons of material. Small products were stored in the adjacent warehouse on U Pergamenky Street, which is now a protected monument. The warehouse therefore had to be spacious, clear and perfectly organized.

The buildings of the warehouse were designed by the architect Josef Kříž, who is remembered today mainly in connection with various projects for Elektrické závody (Electric Plants). He also participated in the design of the famous seat of the Elektrické závody from 1935, which still stands at the Holešovice end of the Hlávka Bridge and has recently undergone a complete reconstruction. Experts describe Kříž's constructions as purely technically useful, but at the same time very cultivated and elegant. The former Ferra is considered one of the most important.

The perimeter of the building consists of facing geometrically stacked brickwork and steel sash windows. On one side it is complemented by a plastered office wing. Riveted steel skeleton, special hollow bricks made in Břeclav and elegant, although the much noted gatehouse, today are among the most valued architectural elements of the building.

Unique roof

When the area was introduced to the public, the so-called shotcrete roof attracted the most attention. This was the first time in Czechoslovakia that the technology of spraying concrete on pre-prepared formwork with fittings was used to construct a roof.

The roof was only three centimetres thick, was perfectly waterproof and, according to its creators, needed no insulation. At that time, the period press proudly emphasized that there was not such a large shotcrete roof anywhere in Germany either. The roof also includes eight strips of transversely mounted saddle skylights. They are made of wire glass, which has been fixed without using sealant.

Homes in place of warehouses

Large warehouses and their original function have become outdated. For today, they are technically obsolete, too large, and over the years they have been surrounded by a completely different city than the one they were designed for. In 1929, noisy traffic was located on the edge of the agglomeration.

Today, there is a larger city centre, with a vibrant life and the further industrial operation of the area is incompatible with this. Therefore, most of the buildings were razed to the ground and only the ancillary warehouse was preserved, which contains practically all the valuable architectural elements from the given space.

Since 2016, the complex has belonged to FINEP, the second largest development company in Prague. It will gradually build housing with a publicly accessible courtyard on the vacated area. The historic building will be part of the services.

Literally like new

The architects, who prepared a standard building-historical survey of a smaller warehouse for FINEP, recommended restoring the side facade with the gatehouse to its original condition as well as rebuilding a distinctive balcony on the southern corner of the building.

The entrance hall with a staircase in the office wing of the building also needs to be aesthetically improved. The administrative part has suffered the most interventions over the years. The rest of the skeleton has remained original, but needs extensive restoration. FINEP intends to be as sensitive as possible in order to preserve the historical heritage of the place, which it greatly values.

You can read more about the transformation of the entire warehouse complex into new modern housing in our article here.

Everything you need just a few steps from the house

The Pergamenka residence will bring new life to the local district. In addition, revitalized steel skeleton fragments from demolished parts of the warehouse will be returned to the complex, which will be used in the construction of the inner industrial garden.

You can read more about the planned garden in Pergamenka in our herbarium.

Do detailu promyšlený projekt

  • Lots of fresh air

    We thought about the health of the residents in Pergamenka and its surroundings. We will plant hundreds of trees in the area. Trees with full range of colours from spring to winter. Above all, they will bring plenty of oxygen to the air. The park's pathways will be beautified by perennials, climbing plants, and hedges. Even the roofs will turn into green, because we will plant 24 plant species on them. A total of 41.7% of Pergamenka's area will be covered by greenery.

    See the Herbarium of Green Pergamenka.