Prague is known around the world for its rich architectural heritage. Apart from historic styles, it boasts many prime examples of brutalism, high-tech or modernism. One of the most valuable ones, the New Departure Hall of Prague Main Train Station, has now got into imminent danger of demolition. We’re determined to save it!

 

 

The building was designed by a team of renowned Czech architects. Jan Bočan and Jan Šrámek are authors of the 1970 Czechoslovak Embassy in London, which received an award from the Royal Institute of British Architects for the best building in the UK created by foreign architects. Alena Šrámková was nicknamed “First lady of Czech architecture” and her ČKD building at Wenceslas Square, designed in 1976 as the first example of postmodernism in Prague, was listed just 9 years after its completion. Josef Danda, another member of the team, gained experience in the studio of Le Corbusier.

The New Departure Hall of Prague Main Train Station was built as an extension of the historic Art Noveau building. Its simple brutalist exterior lets the historic building stand out and merges well with the surroundings. What’s more, the bold high-tech interior brought a contemporary element into the project and since its completion in 1979 still looks futuristic and up-to-date. Its meaning for Prague architectural heritage is comparable with Lloyd’s building in London or Centre Pompidou in Paris. Together with the iconic Žižkov TV tower, it’s the only remaining building of such style in the city.

 

 

Unfortunately, the station renovation project unveiled on 27 November 2023 assumes demolition of major part of the 1979 building. It keeps only a fragment of the interior and completely removes the brutalist facade with elements of early postmodernism. The departure hall is in the proposal by Henning Larsen Architects replaced by an open wooden structure, which fails to respect both architectural and climatic context of Prague.

 

 

A large wave of disagreement rose up against the new project. The building is listed as architectural heritage being an inseparable part of the historic building. The landmark status is now being questioned despite indisputable architectural quality of the New Departure Hall. We’re now trying to draw attention to this unacceptable intervention into Prague’s architectural heritage also abroad. The loss of the building would mean a loss of one of the most valuable examples of post-war architecture in the whole Czech Republic.

This petition is for people outside the Czech republic. The main petition, in Czech language, can be found here:

https://www.petice.com/petice_za_pepracovani_navrhu_na_rekonstrukci_hlavniho_nadrai_v_praze

 

Petition started by:

Adéla Beck, adelebeckova@gmail.com

Matouš Pudil, matous.pudil@gmail.com