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Article from issue 5/2005 »Refurbishment«

Prague - Continuity in Urban Reconstruction

discussion p. 458 - 461
Author Valena, Tomás |

Prague has been severely hit by the economic consequences of political change. The collapse of out-dated and financially neglected companies created a multitude of industrial ruins. A large number of historic buildings of well over fifty years of age, which had been allowed to fall into disrepair and were seriously affected by complicated ownership issues, led to an enormous wave of renovation and refurbishment. The modern requirement for retail and commercial properties could initially only be satisfied by new constructions. Immediately after the “Velvet Revolution”, however, the refurbishment of the Presidential Offices under Václav Havel was initiated along with various renovation projects in the vicinity of Prague Castle by many talented young architects. One such model project has been achieved by Ladislav Lábus with the Palais Langhans.