Another important step towards the modernization of the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague campus will be rebuilding the canteen founded in the 1980s. The university will carry out the reconstruction and completion of this building according to the design of the world architecture icon Eva Jiřičná. The study of the future form of the canteen was presented by a renowned architect with CZU Rector Petr Sklenička, on Monday, February 3, 2025, at a meeting with university management and faculties representatives.
The reconstruction and completion of the canteen according to the design of the Eva Jiřičná architectural studio AI Design should begin within five years. In addition to the modifications and modernization of the existing premises, there will be another floor and habitable space on the roof of the canteen. The building will serve students, academics, and university employees for catering, relaxation, and education. One whole floor is to be designed as a library.
„Our canteen is slowly aging, its best years are behind it, and it deserves a revival. Its reconstruction will contribute to the beautification of the entire area. When such an important figure in world architecture as Eva Jiřičná takes care of it, we can be truly grateful for such an enrichment of the campus,“ Rector Petr Sklenička emphasized during the presentation of the study.
Eva Jiřičná commented on her interest in this project: „As the years go by, I get more and more happy when an old building turns into a new one and when a new life breathes into it." In the spring of 2023, the famous architect met the campus general and agreed to consultations about its future development. The reconstruction of the canteen is the first concrete result of her cooperation with the CZU.
Currently, the canteen building serves mainly as a catering facility with a restaurant on the ground floor and a canteen on the second floor, and there is the CZU store on the ground floor. The building has great potential in terms of a suitable location on the campus, and with the addition of new, sought-after operations, it could become the new heart of the CZU campus.
According to the study, the ground floor of the building should create a welcoming atmosphere and offer various functions and activities for students, employees, and the public. The concept of the new canteen aims to clarify and simplify the entire dining process. The newly designed space will not be divided into smaller units; it is meant to be a shared space for everyone.
The library should be accessible both from the main staircase of the atrium and from the outside - for independent access by employees and as a way to the night study room for students. The atrium will be connected to the library's large entrance area with an info point for obtaining all the necessary information about the libraryś operation, as well as a cafe, seating, and sanitary facilities. At the libraryś rear will be office space, a meeting and day room, book storage, and a digitization room. Within the open space, two places are marked, which can be transformed into two lecture rooms with the possibility of projection using mobile partitions.
The roof of the building will be accessible through the central atrium. A central staircase and two elevators lead to the roof terrace. The roof will be partially covered with Outdoor rooftop furniture, offering comfort while observing breathtaking views of the campus. The roof landscape will be completed by a border of green vegetation, which will contribute to the cooling of the building during hot days. Photovoltaic panels will partially cover the recessed technological terrace along the eastern facade.
