Entrance to the Prague Main Station Underpass
The new entrance to the Prague Main Station underpass from the Žižkov side provides a long-awaited pedestrian connection between the station and the surrounding city. The design establishes a direct, step-free link to the area east of the railway station, towards Seifertova Street and Winston Churchill Square, creating a new connection between Prague 2 and Prague 3. The entrance was conceived as a clearly identifiable gateway to the extended northern underpass of the Main Station, which was identified as the most suitable solution for this purpose.
The new structure shelters the terminal section of the underpass and integrates all the necessary vertical circulation elements, including a staircase, two escalators and a lift. The canopy is designed as a simple reinforced-concrete frame structure with a flat roof. Its most prominent feature is an eight-metre-high tower housing the lift shaft and serving as a visual landmark within the surrounding area. The tower is clad in brick slips and features an illuminated stainless-steel logo of the Czech Railway Administration, together with a clock.
The perimeter of the entrance is enclosed by a glazed wall, creating a visual connection between the interior and exterior and facilitating intuitive wayfinding. The canopy is constructed from exposed concrete and incorporates recessed linear lighting and concealed building services, reinforcing the structure’s clean and legible architectural expression. The material palette combines exposed concrete, glass and dark facing brick, reflecting the infrastructural character of the site while ensuring long-term durability under intensive use.
