Aug 23, 2026

"Upcycling" Prague: Old Offices and Industrial Sites Find New Life as Apartments

Prague Morning

Former offices, commercial properties and industrial sites in Prague are being converted into apartments rather than demolished, giving developers another option in a city struggling to build enough new homes.

The approach is sometimes described as “upcycling” — adapting ageing buildings for a new purpose while making use of structures and land that are already developed.

One recent example is in Pankrác, near Vyšehrad, where an office building has been converted into the Mo-cha HOME residential complex.

Developed by Cimex, the project opened this spring with 91 fully equipped apartments, most of them in the Czech 2+kk layout, consisting of a living room with a kitchenette and one separate bedroom.

Existing buildings offer valuable locations

Owners of older properties increasingly have to decide whether to renovate them, change their use or demolish them. Many were built for different needs and standards than those expected from buildings today.

Their locations, however, can be a major advantage. Older properties are often close to public transport, shops and other services, making them attractive for residential conversion.

Transforming an existing building can also be faster to prepare than developing a completely new project on a brownfield, although each property must be assessed individually.

The approach can preserve existing structures, reduce demolition and make better use of land that is already developed.

More former offices are becoming homes

Pankrác is not the only part of Prague where old buildings are being converted into housing.

In Holešovice, the former Tesla complex, once used for light-bulb production, has been transformed into a residential project with 149 apartments. The building had stood unused for years, but its main structure remained in relatively good condition.

In Prague 7, another former administrative building near Urania has also been adapted for residential use.

In Prague 3, PSN is preparing the reconstruction of a former telecommunications exchange on Fibichova Street. Built in 1926 and designed by architect Bohumír Kozák, the building is expected to become a rental housing project with 116 units.

One of the largest transformations is planned in Žižkov, where the functionalist former General Pension Institute will be converted into an apartment building with smaller units. The project received a building permit last year.

Not every older building is suitable for conversion. Technical condition, layout, location, project costs and future use all determine whether redevelopment makes economic and practical sense.