Prague and Its Districts

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PRAGUE AND ITS DISTRICTS

SPECIAL TOPICS IN URBAN PLANNING - NATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS

IVO TUEK - FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE - C.T.U. IN PRAGUE - WINTER 2006-07

PRAGUE AND ITS DISTRICTS

Prague, as capital of Czech Republic and economical, culturaland communication center in middle Europe region is counted into the listof the most beautiful medieval historical cities of the world. Millions of

tourists come to visit Prague and explore picturesque beauty ofdowntown every year. But Prague is not only historical center. From thebeginning of 19.th century the old city core was step by step surroundedby new development. Those districts were thanks different conditions offoundation and purposes very various and created so very diverse andmarvelous city.

Let me introduce to You some of them.

PRAGUE IN NUMBERS

Inhabitians in districts:Star Msto 10 256Nov Msto 28 025

karln 12 091ikov 57 225Vinohrady 53 927Smchov 36 165Oechovka 6 833Dejvice 23 721Jin Msto 57 324

Area 496 kmLand coverage 177 km2Inhabitians 1 186 618Public libraries 84Non season cinemas 24Theaters 85Muzeums 74Galleries 160

Another cultural facilities 268ZOO 1Sacral buildings 164Cemeteries 29Post offices 106Hospitals 25Universities 29

ORTOPHOTO MAP

TRAFFIC MAP COMPOUND MAP


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institutions and some universities have their buildings

there. Most of historical monuments and touristattractions are situated there and thats why it isovercrowded by tourists.

From urban-planning view is very importantso-called big assanation (city betterment) of Jewishpart of city from he last years of 19th and beginning of20th century Approximately 20% of Old Town areawas pulled down and newly rebuilt due to catastrophichygienic conditions. Only churches, synagogues andsmall part of Jewish cemetery remained. Rest of areawas covered by new houses in romanticism(eclecticism neohistorical) style. Numbers of houseswere built in later decades in Art Nouveau (in CzechSecese), expressionism (Czech Kubismus) andfunctionalism style. Unfortunately, there were somebrutalistic hotels built on the bank of Old Town in the70th.

Chapter 1 Star Msto [in translation Old Town]

Old Town The oldest part of city lies on both banks of Vltava River. On the leftbank of the river is situated Mal Strana (in transl. Small Side) and on the ride bank isStare Msto. Narrow and crooked streets (with some structures from 11.th century) are full ofhotels, tourist shops, restaurants, pubs and coffees, but also government, cultural

1 -STAR MSTO 1 - STAR MSTO

1 -STAR MSTO

Chapter 2 Nov Msto [in transl. New Town]

Nov Msto was established by Czech King Charles IV. in 1348 as a belt of newdevelopment surrounding the area of Old Town. Street network of New Town was set up onsystem of three main squares Senovn (in transl. hay-weighed sq), Vclavsk(Wenceslas sq.), and Karlovo (Charles sq.) From nowadays view, the Wenceslas sq. is withits dimensions of 70x800 m considered more as an avenue than a square.

In New Town, layouts of blocks are much larger and have less organic shapesthan in Star Msto. During the centuries, lots of houses were rebuilt into newer styles andreconstructions of some places still run. In 90th, after politic changes and economicalliberalization, there were built some new business and residential houses. From all I shouldnotice at least dancing house from F. O. Gehry on the bank corner plot.

NovMsto is considered as banking, business and shopping heart of Prague citybut contains also some important educational, cultural and government institutions.


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2 -NOV MSTO 2 - NOV MSTO

2 -NOV MSTO

Chapter 3 Karln [in transl. something like Charls]

Karlin was the first city suburb founded in 1824. New creating neighbors wereclosely connected with industrial revolution. Thats why Karlin was from beginningdedicated for industrial use. On orthogonal layout with large plots (up to 250 x 200meters!)were built up mostly factories and storage houses. This part of city is spread on narrow beltbetween Vltava River and Vitkov hill. Because of reduction of heavy industry in 80th Karlinwas partly abandoned. Hand in hand with leaving of industry came attention of officehouses developers. Large empty plots and close distance to city center were the mainreasons for new investments. On the other side, due to protection of historical industrialbuildings were some old factories converted into art galleries, shopping centers and lofts.[Hilton hotel, R. Bofills Corso Karlin, Danube center, etc] Although there is still someindustry and abandoned areas in Karlin, this part of city in on confident way to turn intoimportant, rich and lively Prague district.

3 - KARLN 3 - KARLN


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3 - KARLN

Chapter 4 ikov

East apart from historical town were till 1874 only lonely farms and large fields. In 1876was issued new rule which allowed to build structures in this area. This moment started massiveconstruction. While on the south-east part were built luxury residential Vinohrady, in northneighborhood were constructed simpler houses for factory workers and tradesmen. On the unfitnorth slope created houses with small flats. Crooked streets, situated to overrun steep slope werenarrow and didnt allow to get enough of sun to get into flats. Those problems together with bad

conditions of unrepaired houses leaded to idea of complete reconstruction of ikov town in1980th. Buildings with neo-historicism facades had to be replaced with austere and boringpanel-houses [known from South City] Thanks god this plan was realized only on small part.ikov never become rich, gleaming. Mostly dirty and savage, full of pubs, strip bars,pawnbrookings and casinos is sometimes compared with SO-HO. Unique and magic genius lociwas saved and sill fascinates hundreds of visitors. Last interference into ikov area and also inwhole Pragues panorama was construction of broadcasting tower [216m] in 1988.

4 - IKOV 4 - IKOV

4 - IKOV

Chapter 5 Vinohrady [in transl. vineyards]

As was mentioned in ikov chapter, Vinohrady rised up in the same period. Inthe second half of 19th century, after the moment when medieval fortification walls lost theirmeaning, towns started to grow. Vinohrady, situated in much better conditions then ikov,were covered by rich and beautiful residential houses. Street network with almostorthogonal layout left some area opened filled with parks. Two main squares were addedby churches. On the Namesti Miru [sq of Peace] is situated neogothic St. Ludmila churchand on the square of Jiri z Podebrad was placed Josip Plecniks church. The residentialhouses of Vinohrady are more than 120 years old, but still very popular and make so thisdistrict attractive and expensive.


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5 - VINOHRADY 5 - VINOHRADY

5 - VINOHRADY

Chapter 6 Smchov

For hundred years, Smchov was just a small village no the left river bank, not faraway from south gate of Mal Strana. Smchov was after Karln second industrial district inPrague. It grew fast and whole area between Strahov and Mrzovka hills was filled bybuildings till the end of 19th. century. Most of them were heavy industry and mechanicalengineering factories, but also food industry appeared. Thanks to development of industryand also because of general development of railways there was established one of thebiggest goods train station in Prague. Character and use of Smchov didnt almost changefor more than 100 years. Things started to move at the end of 70th, in the moment whenmetro came and especially after 1989 when demand for plots close to city center radicallygrew. Whole Smchov and particularly area around metro station became much moreattractive. The pioneer project was J. Nouvels Angel House shopping and office housecomplex situated above same-name metro station, but many other projects followed.Because some factories were listed buildings and it wasnt allowed to pull them down, at

least some fragments had to be preserved. So although nowadays Smchov is live andmodern district with luxury shops, hotels, entertainment and business centers, there are stillsome relicts of factory structures like walls or chimneys. This place is full of changes, manyplots still wait for opportunities and others are under the construction. But sure thatSmchov cant complain for lack of attention.

6 - SMCHOV 6 - SMCHOV


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6 - SMCHOV

Chapter 9 Steovice [core comes from word roof]

This is the best Prague example of garden town. Steovice, settled since secondhalf of 19th century was all the time one of the most luxury district. Rich men, factoryowners, noblemen and politicians built their residences in the verdure. The best knownhouse is A. Looss Millers villa. In the second half of 20th century some houses sufferedfrom dividing into small flats when the flat shortness was solved. But since 90th the villas

have been repaired and obtained back their original beauty and gleam. Many states havetheir embassies there.

7 -STEOVICE

7 -STEOVICE 7 - STEOVICE

Chapter 7 Dejvice [could be transl. like give me more]

History of modern Dejvice starts back into the beginning of 20th. century. In theyear 1920 was proclaimed a competition for design of new north-west Prague suburb. Thisarea was dedicated for: a) residences with services and facilities b) new technical universityc) general command center of Czechoslovak army. Many interesting urban designsappeared. Finally was elected project of A. Engel, student of professor O. Wagner fromWien. His neo classicism project with big emphasis on axis, symmetry and vistas wassituated around main circle. This area is still considered as a heart of Dejvice. Four straitavenues, directing from the circle principally divide district into four differently used parts.1)Military area with command center and barracks 2) Technical university 3) residentialquarter 4) shopping-offices-residential mixed zone. This system still successfully works, butthe shape of main circle wasnt completed yet. Present Dejvice are higher-middle classdistrict with great level of services and facilities, presence of military and university inaddiction.

8 - DEJVICE


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8 - DEJVICE 8 - DEJVICE

Chapter 8 Jin Msto [in transl. South City]

SC is typical and probably the largest housing estate in Czech Republic. Thewhole area was built at once in 70th. on the south-east suburb of Prague, approximately 8km apart from city center and is connected with downtown by metro line.

Idea of this settlement came from theories of modern city planning architects andis situated on the invent of separation of functions, SC is residential part of such area.Roughly 57 000 people live there, but only few thousands of work positions are there.Thats why some people call it Prague bedroom. Through the day, area is abandoned andonly parents with small babies and pensioners are there. The other problems are:

- boring and monotonous structures made from repeated modules- confusing space without landmarks and orientation points.- vague space- houses are in free composition with no private space whats confusing lack ofpublic facilities and services- people prefer shops and entertainment in the downtown bad demography cross

section. When the housing estates were accomplished in the end of 70th, mostly youngfamilies in the same age came. It causes problems of waves in educational system.

Although this district has any disadvantages and situation turns better slowly,people dont leave this place. Maybe its because of flat shortness, maybe people are lazyor get used. Anyway it doesnt appear to transform into ghetto in close time, but leadershipof city should solve situation immediately it could be a thread!

9 - JIN MSTO

9 - JIN MSTO 9 - JIN MSTO


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SPECIAL TOPICS IN URBAN PLANNINGNATIONAL TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF ATHENS

IVO TUEKFACULTY OF ARCHITECTUREC.T.U. IN PRAGUEWINTER 2006-07

Prague and Its Districts

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