Serge Borenstein and guests of the rebirth of Park Hotel 2015
ment. It is true that the inner city of Prague is quite unique and should be preserved exactly as it is. There are enough places to develop around the center of Prague. Just take examples from cities like Shanghai or Beijing that protected the old part of the city and built new parts far from the center. In this case I cannot give examples from the US, as cities in the US do not have these old parts due to their rather recent history. However, protecting old monuments should not become a mantra against the development of a city.” What is a model city that Prague should follow with regards to urban development? “Well, I start with enlarging the perspective, as modern city development is not only about architecture. It is also about public transportation and circulation. And with regards to public transport, Czechs are still very much advanced. I am always amazed by the efficiency of Prague public transport which consists of the metro, trams and buses. Prague transportation is very efficient when compared to other cities. Besides Prague, my favorite city is London. I think London presents an interesting mix of conservative approach and modernity. You can find the most modern buildings neighboring old monasteries and museums and it works very well. Britons have done a marvelous job with regards to planning. One more thing that is worth noticing is the small details in the forms of ornaments or symbols that new buildings share with the neighboring monuments, so as to create a fit that feels very natural. Brits are extremely clever in handling these details, and that is why a totally modern building close to an old church does not look shocking but a quite natural fit. ” Your nickname is Mr. Karlín. Are there any other particular locations that you wish your name to be associated with nowadays, apart from your current projects in Prague 2 or Prague 4 Modřany? “It is interesting because I never wished to have this nickname, but it came and I accepted it. With regards to other areas of Prague, I feel very comfortable both driving and walking in Prague 7, and that is the area that I would like to help develop, as I continue working in the above mentioned parts of Prague.”
You mentioned that Karlín prices should be closer to the price range in Prague 1, given its prestige and central location. This statement did not bring you many supporters, because Czech people are quite price sensitive. Aren’t you afraid that the partnerships and community would disappear, and Karlín would become a ghost town like the centre of Prague? “I really feel that Karlín is unique and I stick to the statement regarding its rising value. There are not many places like this in Prague where people can come to live, work and enjoy culture. Besides many cafés, restaurants and galleries, Karlín has a modern large theatre with seating occupancy for 2500 people and a modern concert hall. When you compare this to Prague 1, the office buildings in Prague 1 are not efficient. They do not have parking spaces, they are not easily accessible from the street. In Karlín, the fact that office buildings border residence buildings makes access much easier. When I started, I was told that I cannot mix office and residential. I wanted to prove that this diversity would work.” Your aim is to improve the image of developers, and you even co-founded an association of developers that brought together your competitors, not only to improve their image but also the communication with authorities. “I agree with you that the image of developers is bad in Czech Republic. But why is the image of developers so bad? It is because the communication is almost non-existent between the developers and authorities. Development in the city cannot be done without them. In reality, when one half of construction contracts come from the state, the situation is detrimental. The developer is perceived as an enemy. I do not feel welcome when I enter the office and talk to the authorities, and feel I always have to fight hard to push things forward, when I would much rather negotiate. The situation went too far when Mr. Stropnický declared that Prague does not need developers at all. If you consider that this is the person responsible for the development, then you see this is an aberration. The fact that I have developed more than
400, 000 sq meters in Karlín, and none of the openings were visited by representatives from the city, speaks for itself.” What is your message to foreigners living in the Czech Republic? Make an effort to understand the Czech mentality, the Czechs are not so expressive and warm hearted at first sight, as for example Italians, but gradually you can develop relationships that are very deep and long-lasting. What is your message to Czechs? I believe that Czechs should stand up for themselves more. Sometimes they should not accept the situation as it is, and fight for better solutions, especially in politics. You have a wonderful country, but you should also resist the temptation to become too nationalistic. It always surprised me how many Czech people were successful abroad in experts positions as architects, lawyers, doctors, artists. This trend can continue only if you continue to be open to the rest of the world, which brings our discussion from the beginning to full circle.” Did you know that the population density in Prague per square km is 2,534 people, in comparison to 4,132 in Vienna, 6,015 in Copenhagen and 16,096 inhabitants in Barcelona? Prague is one of the most “sparsely” inhabited cities, which causes problems not only with expensive infrastructure maintenance but also with regards to sustaining small shops and businesses in areas further from the center. The “urban sprawl” problem is common to many cities, and the remedy is to bring the development back to centers of cities, using brownfields in forms of former train stations or factories. By Linda Štucbartová české znění naleznete v elektronické verzi magazínu na www.czechleaders.com
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