Being in the historical city centre of Prague, the area designated for the new department store was quite complex. An architectual competition was organised in order to find the best idea for its architectual and urbanistic solution. The Machonins’ design introduced a spatial structure of interconnected hexagonal prisms and was valued especially for its “good development of irregular ground plan, unconventional dispositions and distictive contemporary architectual expression.” Their hexagonal structure supported by columns with inclined struts allowed to reduce vertical support to a minimum and effectively used the construction space.

Since 2008 the Kotva department store has been gradually revitalized with more or less appropriate modifications. Until recently, it continued to be used as a department store, even though it had to compete with more modern department stores across the street. In the end of April 2019, the building was granted listed building status. It has been owned by Generali Real Estate since 2020 and was closed on February 1, 2024 for an extensive renovation, which is scheduled to be completed by 2027. Planned changes that are known: the current entrance in the basement to the Albert supermarket from Náměstí Republiky is to disappear. Instead, a new circular entrance is planned elsewhere. The area at the entrance from the other side towards Jakubská Street will be redesigned. 

According to the Prague City Council, Kotva will retain its iconic appearance despite the planned changes and will be closely monitored by the successors of the original architects. The shape of the building is therefore expected to remain essentially the same, but asbestos removal from the façade, for example, will be necessary. There will be a few changes to the interior, such as the creation of office space. However, the use for stores will essentially remain the same (last updated on January 21, 2025).