November is not just the beginning of winter. 34 years ago, the history of Helika was started. It began in 1990 and since then we have been involved in major projects in architecture and construction.
You may have visited some of our projects – such as the National Technical Library or the O2 Arena, which hosts world-class concerts and sporting events. You may drive a car manufactured in the Škoda Auto welding and painting plant in Kvasiny, park in the Černý Most P+R, or shop in the Chodov or Černý Most shopping centres, which are among the largest and most visited centres of their kind in the Czech Republic.
If you’ve ever needed top medical care, you may have encountered the reconstruction of Motol Hospital or benefited from the care of the Proton Centre (PTC), where we helped create a space for the latest medical technologies. You might also live in one of the modern apartment buildings, such as Vivus Kolbenova, Waltrovka, work in the Rustonka office building or Mechanica Walter.
Whether you live, work, shop or just walk through one of these locations, each of these projects is part of our long history and a showcase of our work to change the environment and make you feel good about yourself.
Whether you live, work, shop or just walk through one of these locations, each of our projects is a reflection of our years of experience and careful work. We change and create environments that fit naturally into your everyday life and make you feel comfortable.
My colleagues visited one of our older projects and had a fascinating tour of the Czech National Bank! 🚪💼 Thanks to the willingness of the bank’s technical department staff, we were able to walk through the „bowels“ of this monumental space up to the roof, and recall the design and implementation process of the 1995–2000 reconstruction carried out by our company, as presented by our colleague Zdeněk Pelinka.
Even after so many years, it is interesting to see how ideas on paper have turned into reality. And when someone from our own ranks is behind it, the impression is all the more impressive. Thank you for an unforgettable experience! 🙌
A final tip: You can visit the public areas of the Czech National Bank during opening hours and take a tour of one of the accessible exhibitions in the visitor centre.
The reconstruction of the Czech National Bank in 1995–2000
The headquarters complex of the Czech National Bank in Prague consists of two important buildings – the historic „Roith“ building and the former Plodin Stock Exchange building. The reconstruction, which has been carried out during its more than 30-year history, aimed to connect these two adjacent buildings into one harmonious and functional whole, respecting their historical significance and current needs.
Both buildings are located in the heart of Prague’s UNESCO World Heritage Site and are listed as immovable cultural monuments in the Czech Republic. The building of the former Plodinova Burza has undergone an extension of the original neo-Renaissance building with rooms in the style of classicizing modernism, designed by architect Bohumil Hypšman. The main aim of the reconstruction was to create a modern congress and educational centre that would match the prestige and needs of the central bank. This space now serves as a venue for professional discussions, presentations and educational activities organised by the CNB for the professional public.
After the renovation, the building offers a wide range of functions – from the CNB’s professional library and archives to two multifunctional congress halls and teaching and exhibition spaces. There are also catering facilities and an elegant banking club has been set up on the ground floor. One of the most interesting aspects of the project was the restoration of the historic interiors, which required a sensitive approach by the architects. As a renovation method, they chose the principle of giving a contemporary modern look to all the newly established elements in the historic interiors. The result is a perfect symbiosis of history and the present that gives the building new life while honouring its rich past.
