City Green Court in Prague Features a Living Wall and Tree In the Central Atrium

City Green Court is currently under construction on the Pankrác Plains in Prague and will complete the superblock designed and built by New York firm <a href="http://www.richardmeier.com/www/#/projects/architecture/visual/1/580/0/" target="_blank">Richard Meier &amp; Partners</a>. The eight story <a href="http://inhabitat.com/light-filled-unstudio-office-tower-in-amsterdam-complete/" target="_self">office building</a> is part of a large master plan to redevelop the formerly neglected part of the city and has already been pre-qualified for LEED Platinum certification. The highlight of the project though will be a large central atrium planted with a tree and a living wall, sucking <a href="http://inhabitat.com/category/daylighting">daylight</a> into the heart of the building.

The new daylight-filled building is the third and final building as part of Richard Meier's office master plan for the Radio Plaza superblock.

Inspired by Czech cubism, the exterior is a expressed as a series of horizontal and vertical planes.

The exterior includes cubic balconies and vertical fins on the south and west facades that help shade the interior.

Eight stories of green, modern and flexible office space will soon be available under the ownership of Skanska.

Sustainable design is also express through the use of natural ventilation of the atrium during the summer, state-of-the-art mechanical systems, reduction of water runoffs and storm water collection, green roof, indoor air quality control and the use of local and recycled materials.

The highlight of the project is a large light-filled central atrium with a Black Olive Tree planted in the center surrounded by ivy-covered living walls.

Construction began on the office building in 2010 and is expected to be complete by 2012.

« Handmade Mass Production by Folkform Ty Hedfan by Featherstone Young » City Green Court by Richard Meier &amp; Partners February 23rd, 2011 City Green Court by Richard Meier and Partners Here are some images of an office building designed by American studio Richard Meier &amp; Partners, currently under construction in Prague, Czech Republic. City Green Court by Richard Meier and Partners Called City Green Court, the building will feature glass façades interrupted by protruding vertical fins and balconies. City Green Court by Richard Meier and Partners The eight-storey building will be organised around a central open-air atrium with a large tree in the middle and a wall covered in plants at ground level. City Green Court by Richard Meier and Partners Walkways spanning across the courtyard will provide access routes from opposites sides of the building. City Green Court by Richard Meier and Partners This is the third building to be designed by Meier as part of a masterplan for the Pankrác Plains in Prague. City Green Court by Richard Meier and Partners Construction on the tower began in September last year and is due to be completed in 2012. City Green Court by Richard Meier and Partners Renderings are courtesy of Vize. More offices on Dezeen » More projects by Richard Meier on Dezeen » City Green Court by Richard Meier and Partners Click for larger image The following information is from the architects: Richard Meier &amp; Partners third building breaks ground in Prague, Czech Republic and receives LEED Platinum pre-certification Richard Meier &amp; Partners Architects is pleased to announce the construction of City Green Court which has recently started last September 2010. This is RM&amp;P’s third building within the Master Plan of Prague 4- Pankrác that began almost a decade ago with a local Czech developer and named the CITY Project. Based on RM&amp;P’s Master Plan of the superblock on the Pankrác Plains, this once neglected area of Prague has now been transformed into a multi-functional, vibrant and revitalized business, commercial, and residential district filled with green public spaces and amenities. City Green Court by Richard Meier and Partners Click for larger image City Green Court has been modified and re-designed to the new owner Skanska’s sustainability goals and high standards to achieve the highest level of LEED certification. The project has recently received a LEED Platinum Pre-certification. With City Green Court, Richard Meier &amp; Partners completes the northwestern corner of the superblock along M. Pujmanové and Hvĕzdova Streets with a cluster of three buildings. Conceived as a geometric volume in dialogue with the near context, City Green Court also offers respected contrast to the surrounding buildings. Like its earlier siblings City Tower and City Point, it is inspired by the language of Czech Cubism with an expressive façade that responds to issues of conservation and sustainability articulated with forms reminiscent of this avant-garde movement. City Green Court by Richard Meier and Partners Click for larger image When completed in early 2012, it will be a welcomed and key addition to the Pankrác superblock. “We are working together to make City Green Court a benchmark for green building design in the Czech Republic, said Richard Meier. “This assignment has been particularly challenging as it also meant addressing the historic beauty of Prague and at the same time creating a modern image of the City for its future.” Distinctive vertical solid panels with fins angled according to the sun’s orientation are integrated into the design of the curtain wall, emerging from both the south and west facades to minimize solar heat gain and to provide balanced shading and comfort within the interiors while maximizing daylight and views. City Green Court by Richard Meier and Partners Click for larger image In contrast, the north and east facades do not need solar protection: shading is unnecessary to the north, and City Tower, the adjacent high rise standing on the neighboring site shields the building to the east. White spandrel glass replaces the fin panels producing facades which are calm, sleek and uniform. The four facades when juxtaposed create a harmonious and dynamic envelope that can be perceived differently from close and distant vantage points. The eight-story building is organized around a central sky-lit atrium surrounded by highly efficient office floor spaces. To the south, a grand canopy marks the formal entrance to the building that leads into a single height lobby which then opens into the multi-story atrium. City Green Court by Richard Meier and Partners Click for larger image Atop the seven office floor plates, the partial mechanical penthouse level is covered with an extensive green roof and a skylight. Nestled in the atrium is a singular black olive tree and green ivy wall, with bridges spanning above from one side of the space to the other while a free standing stair connects the first four floors promoting movement and interaction, and encouraging less use of elevators. The exterior and interior of City Green Court are intertwined visually and physically with landscape elements spilling into and reappearing in the atrium. City Green Court by Richard Meier and Partners Click for larger image “Skanska Property Czech Republic, our Associate Architect CUBOID and our local consultants in Prague are fast becoming experts in green building design,” said Partner in Charge Dukho Yeon. “With its tautly composed form and elements, City Green Court embodies a certain discipline and restraint; designed within the framework of Skanska’s green initiative."

City Green Court is expected to achieve LEED platinum certification in the Czech Republic by drastically reducing energy consumption.

The masterplan for the superblock.

Ground floor layout.

Roof layout.

Building section.