Among the top hundred most notable constructions were ranked:

The Prague Castle

It was the seat of the kings for centuries and the official seat of the President of modern Czech history. Many of the buildings of the castle are used as exhibition halls and the gardens are open to the public. They have been under reconstruction since the 1990s. There is also the most famous sacred construction of the Czech Republic in the castle complex – the St.Vitus´ Cathedral.

  • It was commissioned by: Bořivoj I. (885 – 1000)
  • The builder – the Wladislav Hall – Benedikt Ried (1493-1502)
  • The architect of the reconstruction – Josip Plečnik

Villa Tugenhad (Brno)

It is a unique construction built according to a design of the German architect Ludwig Miese van der Rohe, who designed it on commission for a married couple Grete and Fritz Tugenhad. It is essentially a functionalist building; the author used the concept of the pavilion in Barcelona from 1927. The architect made unrepeatable work by using non-traditional spatial solutions, materials and interconnections with the garden. It is considered the pinnacle of his career, and it was put on the UNESCO list in 2001.

  • It was commissioned by: Greta and Fritz Tugenhod
  • The architect: Ludwig Miese van der Rohe
  • Period of construction: 1930-31

Czech Cubism – a short but important architectural era

Cubism initially appeared in Czech architecture in 1910. Geometric shapes of prisms and multi faceted corners appeared on the facades, furniture, as well as on many small everyday items such as dishes, glassware etc. Prominent designers of this extraordinary style were the architects: Pavel Janák ( Libeňský Bridge in Holešovice, the functionalist houses at Baba in Prague 6), Josef Gočár ( among others, he was the author of the House of the Black Madonna in Celetná Street in Prague and many buildings in Hradec Králové), Josef Chochol ( the house No. 30 in Neklanova Street in Prague), Emil Králíček ( the house Diamant in Lazarská Street and Lucerna at Jungmann square), Vladislav Hofman (Ďáblický ostrov), Jan Kotěra (Všeobecný penzijní ústav (retirement pension) at Rašín Embankment No. 42 in Prague).

The biggest building along Constructivism lines is…

Veletržní Palace

The building was originally intended for fairs and exhibitions. Following the commission it was the only centre with two exhibition palaces, a hotel, an apartment building and an administration building. It was designed by architects Josef Fuchs and Oldřich Tyl. They created the biggest ferroconcrete construction of its time in the world; it was also one of the first official buildings built in this style. It is the property of the National Gallery where permanent exhibitions and other events related with art, design, fashion or architecture are held. The building was declared as a protected monument.

  • It was commissioned by: the Czechoslovak Republic
  • Architects: Josef Fuchs and Oldřich Tyl
  • Period of construction: 1925 – 1928

Functionalism – a simple charming style

This style strongly affected the architecture of the 20s and 30s. It appeared as a rationalized response to lavish decorative styles such as Art Nouveau. It prefers simple lines, geometric elements, and embodied a new type of construction. Many architects followed this school which reappeared again after 1990. Among the most prominent commissions of that time is Villa Müller in Nad Hradním Vodojemem Street, No. 14, in Prague 6. It was designed by the great architects Adolf Loos and Karel Lhota, and was built in 1928-30 for a businessman from the building industry František Müller and his wife Ludmila. After years of dilapidation it was restored to its original state, and it is still furnished with many original items. The reconstruction could not have been carried out were it not due to the Museum of the Capital City, which has been maintaining the building since it was bought by Prague City.

Another distinctly dominant face of functionalism is the Barrandov Terraces, rising above the rock from which they were named in Prague 5. It was a design that incorporated a complex for 3000 people with a restaurant, viewing towers, three terraces and a famous bar “Trilobit”. There was a swimming pool under the terraces and the rock. The instigator of the whole project was the father of former President Havel and the architect was Max Urban. He also designed the studios and the villa quarter Barrandov. The opening ceremony of the terraces took place on October 14th, 1929. After 1948, when the whole complex was nationalized by the communists, it started dilapidating like many other important buildings. It was only in recent times, after the restitution of property, that the new owner began with reconstruction.

After his “cubist and nationalist” period, the architect Pavel Janák broke into functionalism as well. In his fifties he got the opportunity to design and coordinate the building of the “Baba settlement”. The original plan was to build typical detached houses, but the investors, actually the members of Union of the Czechoslovak Workers did not want it. Each of them wanted to have the house of their own taste. As a result, there appeared a complex of unique villas designed by 19 architects. Names such as: Josef Gočár, František Zelenka, Hana Kučerová-Záveská, Evžen Linhart, Ladislav Žák, Jan Evangelista Koula, Ladislav Machoň and the only foreigner – the Dutch architect Mart. All these were pioneers of the modern style; all of them gave a guarantee of work of high quality that is still admired to this day. They used mainly flat roofs and a checkerboard pattern of houses in order so that they did not cast a shadow on each other and to provide great views.

The most progressive building of the beginning of the socialistic era was

The Pavilion for the world exhibition EXPO 58 in Brussels

Participation of the Czechoslovak state was considered essential among European countries. As a result the pavilion and restaurant from the State Project Institution for the town and village construction by authors Cubra, Hrubý and Pokorný, was built. This exposition gained the highest recognition in the overall evaluation of the international competition. The use of new techniques in construction in pavilions was highly recognised; it was formed by a steel skeleton in combination with glass and plastic that was dismountable. At the same time the interior held original furniture, artworks and utility goods. Both pavilions were transported back to Prague, where they were used for their original purpose for a couple of decades without any repairs. It was mainly the devastated restaurant at Letná, which became the subject of dispute for its further use and reconstruction. Finally, it has been renewed and is now used by an advertising company.

  • It was commissioned by: the Czechoslovak state
  • The architect: František Cubr, Josef Hrubý, Zdeněk Pokorný
  • Period of construction: 1957-58

The construction of the century was designated:

The television transmitter and hotel Ještěd has the shape of circular hyperboloid and is standing on the same named mountain in Liberec (1012m). It also got a prestigious award – the Auguste Perret Prize UIA (1969). In 2008 the Ministry of Culture nominated it for the Unesco list in 2010. It played an important role during the occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1968. Then, on August 25 – 27 a TV studio “Sever” run by two technicians and a radio editor Miroslav Hladík was broadcast from there and on the 27th August the actor Jan Tříska and the future president Václav Havel appeared on their broadcast. A small desk in the broadcasting studio acts as a reminder. The architect is considered one of the greatest architects of the post war period. He initiated the foundation of the faculty of architecture at the Technical University of Liberec.

  • It was commissioned by: the Czechoslovak state
  • The architect: Karel Hubáček
  • Period of construction: 1966-73

The first post revolution achievement in architecture was:

The Dancing House

It is a classical example of so called deconstructive architecture. The interiors were partly designed by the British architect of Czech origin Eva Jiřičná.

  • Investor: ING
  • The architect: Frank Owen Gehry
  • The Co-architect: Vlado Milunič
  • Period of construction: 1993-96

The highest construction in Prague is:

The Žižkov Television Tower

The complete tower is 216 m tall. It was erected here at the turn of the 80s and 90s. There are two decks open to the public. On the lower one there is a restaurant. It is located 97 meters above the ground with a TV transmitter on the very top. There are three circular tubes reaching the height of 134 meters, the main one transforms into an antenna. There are also two lifts, where visitors can appreciate the vista. The constructional design of the tower is protected by a Czechoslovak patent. It was designed by architects Václav Aulický, dr. ing. Jiří Kozák, CSc. and ing. Alex Bém.

  • It was commissioned by: the Czechoslovak state
  • The architect: Václav Aulický, co-authors Jiří Kozák and Alex Bém
  • Period of construction: 1985-92

The longest traffic construction is the metro:

The idea of making an underground construction appeared since the 19th century. At that time it was a famous owner of hardware store Ladislav Rott, who was promoting this idea. Nevertheless, it wasn’t until 1974 that Praguers began to use the underground as we know it. The first part of line C was built then. After 34 years the underground system is now almost 60 km long. Another three stations in the direction of Střížkov, Prosek, Letňany on line C were opened. And before the metro celebrates its 35th birthday, works on the line A in the direction of Dejvice towards the airport should start. Prospectively, there are also plans for a new line D.

The international awards for contemporary architecture were won by:

The gallery of Benedikt Ried made by architects Emil Přikryl, Tomáš Bezpalec a Tomáš Novotný in Louny. The rebuilt brewery located in the historical part of the town became the symbol of respect towards history and was in combination with modern elements.

The Danube House, Administration Centre

It was finished in 2003 as a part of the complex River City. It is situated on the river bank of Vltava in Karlín, one side is reminiscent of the bow of a boat. The interiors are glassed-in and richly furnished with greenery. It makes the building an interesting and light area. There is an atrium on the ground floor similar to the outside – there are cobble stones, concrete columns, a small lake and a modern reception. Professionals were also interested in energy saving solutions, and it became a highly esteemed ecological construction. Moreover, even though it is a hypermodern building, it does not conflict with the historic environment of Karlín.

  • Investor: Europolis Invest
  • The architect: an architectonic group KPF London and A.D.N.S. architect (Praha)
  • Completion of construction: 2007

Architecture in film

A documentary film by Jaroslav Brabec called Inspiring Prague won the 3rd place at the festival ARTS&FILM in the category Architecture and Design in Telč in 2006.