Danube House

For over two decades, Danube House has stood as a modern landmark on Prague’s Vltava embankment, recognised for its distinctive prow-like form and expansive glazed atrium. Gillespies is supporting Bogle Architects in its transformation into a next-generation workplace, one that places environmental performance and human well-being at the core of its design vision. The strategy recognises the proven role of nature in improving focus, reducing stress and supporting healthier, more productive working environments.

Commissioned to lead the landscape and planting design, Gillespies is reshaping the building’s ground plane, atrium, terraces and rooftops through a cohesive approach to biophilic design. A network of internal landscapes and green infrastructure brings planting, natural materials and daylight deep into the building, strengthening the everyday connection between people and nature while improving comfort and wellbeing.

At the heart of the building, the atrium has been reinvented to emulate the cross-section of a riverbed. The flow of people through the ground-floor space mirrors the rhythms of a watercourse, with main pathways facilitating primary circulation and fast-paced routes offering hot desking options, while slower routes resemble areas where a river deposits sediment, form cosy seating nooks, lounges and private meeting spots, encouraging relaxation and connectivity.

On the ground floor, a lush parterre garden creates a vibrant arrival experience. Featuring tropical planting, a reception and café, this space is anchored by a sculpted island formed from recycled cladding material, offering flexible zones for work, gathering and relaxation.

A sculptural floating staircase, inspired by the course of a river, rises through the atrium to a series of elevated platforms. These include sunken lounge areas, yoga decks and informal meeting spots. Reed-like lighting and gobo projections mimic rippling water, creating a calming visual atmosphere and reinforcing the building’s nature-inspired identity.