Golden Masaryčka: The legacy of the famous Zaha Hadid
Let's start with the most striking addition to the family, a must-see for all lovers of modern architecture. It’s a large building at the Masaryk railway station in Prague, designed by world-famous architect Zaha Hadid. You can recognize the Masaryčka, as it’s generally known, by its “armour” of gilded slats, a nod to the famous towers of the Old Town. The office building also contains shops, restaurants and roof gardens with panoramic views.
A hotel like in New York
A few metres from the Masaryčka, on the other side of the train terminal, you’ll find another eye-catching building. The Cloud One Hotel is triangular in shape and was inspired in part by New York's famous Flatiron Building, nicknamed The Iron. The minimalist hotel has a rooftop terrace bar with fabulous views of the Old Town and Hradčany and Vítkov opposite.
Fun shopping centre with butterflies
Artist David Černý is very well-known, even notorious. His two giant butterflies gently flutter their wings on the facade of the newly renovated Máj department store in the very centre of Prague. This fun-packed building houses a rooftop restaurant and the Fly Vista panoramic viewpoint with a 36-metre marble bar, which offers a breathtaking view of all the historical sights of Prague. The viewpoint is free for bar guests.
David Černý is associated with another extraordinary and controversial work, the giant sculpture of a naked woman holding up an apartment building amidst the modern architecture of Prague’s Karlín district between Rohanský nábřeží and Sokolovská ulice. The woman is probably the largest statue in Czechia and is called Lilith.
Green SWARD in the centre of Prague
Just around the corner from the Máj department store, on the wide Národní třída, you can't miss the corner building with its metal facade. It’s overgrown with greenery, the natural aspect leading to it being dubbed the DRN (SWARD). Be sure to go into the courtyard, where there is a seating area and a giant steel tree overgrown with creeping plants, which lights up with a fairy-tale glow in the evening.
Huge glass lenses by the Vltava River
This is a great sight that will make any walk along the Vltava River embankment an extraordinary experience. The refurbished “dungeons”, i.e. the spaces formerly used to store materials and goods brought in by boat, have been converted into cafés, bars and galleries. All have huge glass revolving lens-shaped doors. They came to Prague via Hamburg from Thailand.
Iconic TV tower
One dominant landmark on the Prague skyline is the Žižkov TV Tower (Tower Park Praha), which, soaring to a height of 216 metres, is the highest building in the Czech capital. It’s a popular tourist destination. Visitors are attracted to see the viewpoint, the Oblaca restaurant and the unique hotel room with its luxurious amenities.
Church with a huge clock face
We're going stay just a little way from Žižkov TV Towers, in a part of town with cafés, bars and regular farmer's markets, where you can take a tour of one of the country’s most interesting churches. It was designed by the renowned Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik, who also worked for T. G. Masaryk, the first Czechoslovak president. The Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord on náměstí Jiřího z Poděbrad, which can be easily reached from the historical centre of Prague by metro or tram, dominates the surrounding area with its massive tower with six bells and large circular clock face.
Wine bar under the garden
Wine lovers are sure to enjoy the branch of the Na břehu Rhôny wine bar in Prague’s Holešovice district, just a few minutes’ walk from the magnificent DOX Centre for Contemporary Art with its unique wooden airship on the roof. Magasin Komunardů is a wine bar set in a modern building in a space covered by a year-round garden.
Gems by Adolf Loos
Prague also has plenty to offer for lovers of ‘house museums’, i.e. unique private villas that have opened up to the public. You can find them in three of Prague’s beautiful buildings: The Villa and Müller Villa by Adolf Loos, a visionary and one of the most provocative architects of his time. Most of his buildings saw just a tumultuous a history as that of their wealthy owners. Both these villas with extraordinary interiors are located further away from the centre and tours must be booked in advance. The third treat is the Villa Rothmayer, which serves as a museum.
National Technical Library
And we’ll stay on this side of the Czech capital. A few minutes from the Dejvice metro station lies the university district, home to a number of technical faculties. Not to mention the exceptional National Technical Library with its light-hearted and welcoming interior, dominated by concrete and glass, complemented by comfortable modern furnishings and artwork on the walls. A great place to chill out among smart people and big ideas.
Signal Festival: The art of light
One of the most important events dedicated to modern architecture and art is the Signal Festival, which sees the top artists in the field gather every year. This festival of light art transforms the city into a glittering open-air gallery. From 10 to 13 October 2024, historical buildings and modern structures in Prague will be lit up with colourful installations that combine architecture with state-of-the-art technologies.
Designblok: The largest design festival
Another major event showcasing the most contemporary trends in art, design and technology is Designblok, the largest design festival in Central Europe. It will take place in Prague from 2 to 6 October 2024. Designblok is exceptional in that its exhibitions take you to some often unique architectural spaces in various parts of the Czech capital.
