The Červená stužka building, one of the most anticipated reconstructions in Prague, will be ceremoniously unveiled to the public on June 24th. Amadeus Real Estate aims to introduce a completely new concept in the Czech Republic with this project.
Led by brothers Martin and Václav Klán, Amadeus Real Estate is a development firm specializing in the reconstruction of historic buildings. Five years ago, they purchased the building from Tesco for approximately one billion Czech crowns, and in April 2022, they began a complete reconstruction project with total costs amounting to 4.5 billion crowns.
The iconic Czech architecture from the 1970s will reopen as the modern multi-purpose center Máj Národní. Inspired by concepts from major European capitals, the Klán brothers aim to attract visitors not only for shopping and dining but also for a variety of family-friendly experiential activities.
The striking building, reminiscent of interwar functionalism, has adorned the corner of Národní and Spálená streets for nearly fifty years. Situated in one of the busiest areas of Prague, approximately ninety thousand people pass by daily.
However, the commercial potential of the building was not fully utilized by previous owners. The Klán siblings agree that their father saw immense untapped potential in the property. They are determined to maximize the building’s prime location and transform it into a hub deserving of recognition.
Máj was built on the site of the demolished neo-Gothic Šlikovský Palace, originally named Prior 02. After the fall of the Iron Curtain, the majority stake was acquired by American K-Mart, later taken over by British Tesco and renamed My.
The Klán brothers have decided to write a new chapter for Máj. They have transformed the iconic department store into a center dedicated to shopping, entertainment, culture, and education, spread across a total area of seventeen thousand square meters. They will also open nine out of the eleven floors of the building, compared to the previous six.
A major attraction for tourists and locals will be the Fly Vista observation terrace on the eighth floor of the building. Václav Klán eagerly anticipates sharing the breathtaking views of the city’s heart with visitors.
The ground floor will continue to house a Tesco supermarket, the first floor will feature small retailers, and the entire second floor will offer high-end dining options and fast-food outlets with seven hundred seating places. Brands like Popeyes, Burger King, Banh-mi-ba, Misushi, and Amerikanos will have their branches there.
The newly accessible upper floors will be transformed into the experiential park Infinite Experience, offering countless attractions for all age groups, from bowling to mini-golf, arcade games, and racing simulators. The concept has also attracted experiential stores like Heroes Park, dedicated to comic book superheroes, to the Czech Republic.
In addition to games, Máj will offer educational programs on Czech history. Václav Klán reveals plans to open an interactive museum called Back-in-time in November, commemorating the anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. The museum aims to present the entire history of the Czech Republic to tourists, Czech schools, and kindergartens.
A temporary kinetic installation on the building’s facade by David Černý pays homage to Czech history. Butterflies with bodies made from Spitfire fighter plane fuselages honor the Czechoslovak RAF squadron pilots from World War II. Each pilot is further commemorated by 359 small airplanes in the sidewalk pavement.
As the building has been a cultural monument since 2006, located in the Prague heritage reserve, the reconstruction was carried out under the supervision of heritage officials and the original architects from the legendary Sial studio in Liberec. The Klán brothers, who have experience with similar projects such as the reconstruction of the Bristol Palace on Dlouhá Street, found the technical aspects of the Máj project relatively straightforward due to its concrete skeleton structure.
It is unlikely that another similar shopping center will be built in the Czech Republic as it would not be sustainable. However, the Klán brothers express their interest in developing similar projects in other European capitals in the future.