Prague is moving to define where high-rise buildings can stand — and how tall they can be — as city officials prepare to approve a plan that aims to bring clarity to years of uncoordinated development.

The proposed Metropolitan Plan introduces a clear ceiling for new towers: 100 meters. But such buildings will be limited to specific parts of the city, mostly outside the historic core.

Under the new framework, taller buildings will be concentrated in areas such as Roztyly, Chodov, Vysočany, Bohdalec and Nové Butovice. Other districts — including Pankrác, Žižkov, Budějovická, Opatov and Bubny — will see lower height limits, generally ranging between 60 and 80 meters.

City planners say the selection reflects two main concerns: preserving Prague’s skyline and avoiding conflicts with air traffic. The historic center, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, has long been a sensitive issue in debates over vertical development, with past proposals drawing criticism from conservationists and international bodies.

Some locations have already been identified for the tallest structures. The plan allows buildings up to 100 meters near key transport hubs, including metro stations such as Českomoravská and Nové Butovice, as well as around Eden railway station.

One project in Nové Butovice is set to go even further. A planned tower by developer Trigema, topped with a large-scale sculpture by David Černý, is expected to reach 135 meters, making it the tallest structure in the country. City officials say the project will proceed even if it exceeds the new plan’s general height cap.

Despite opening the door to taller buildings, city officials insist that high-rises are not the solution to Prague’s housing challenges. Hlaváček argues that the city’s overall density remains too low, with a large share of buildings limited to just two storeys. The new plan aims to shift development toward mid-rise construction, with at least four floors in a majority of new building zones.

At the same time, officials stress the need for caution. Prague’s landscape, shaped by its terrain and centuries of architectural history, leaves little room for unchecked vertical growth. Even in districts where high-rises are permitted, planners intend to keep them within clearly defined limits.

Hlaváček has also indicated that future amendments could require developers to hold architectural competitions for buildings taller than roughly 40 meters — a measure inspired by similar rules in Copenhagen and enabled by the Czech Republic’s new Building Act.

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