125 let Klubu Za starou Prahu - výstava v NPÚ Ostrava
Vernisáž s přednáškou Rostislava Šváchy a komentovanou prohlídkou Richarda Biegela
On February 5, 2026, at 5 PM, the exhibition celebrating 125 years of the Club for Old Prague will be held in Ostrava, featuring exceptional personalities. The prominent art and architecture historian Rostislav Švácha will introduce us to the history of the club and the exhibitions. The chair of the Club for Old Prague, Richard Biegel, will conduct a guided tour of the exhibition. The Ostrava installation will be enriched with items in showcases and examples of outputs from Ostrava initiatives inspired by the activities and personalities of the club. The exhibition will be accessible from Monday to Friday at the exhibition hall of the Ostrava specialized workplace of the National Heritage Institute until May 15, 2026.
“The Club for Old Prague represents one of the oldest continually active associations in the Czech lands,” says Martin Strakoš, curator and heritage conservationist. “The Ostrava reprise is the first presentation outside Prague. What is essential is the inspiration for the establishment of the civic association For Old Ostrava and subsequently the informal group For Beautiful Ostrava. These initiatives significantly influenced the cultural events in our city at their time. Visitors to the exhibition will thus see the connections between the Club for Old Prague and Ostrava initiatives,” adds Martin Strakoš.
The Club for Old Prague was founded in 1900, which is over a century ago. At that time, just as today, it was an association of enthusiasts and experts striving not only to preserve the essence of historic Prague but also to strive for the highest quality contemporary architecture entering it. This is also the purpose of the exhibition, which focuses primarily on the period from 1990 to 2025.
Some of the city's problems are still similar to those of 1900 after 125 years. Both then and now, plans are being created that do not respect the character of the environment and take more from it than they give in return. The hallmark of many projects is not the quality of architecture but purely commercial interests and sharp elbows. This is how projects that contradict existing rules can proceed. The city needs good architecture and quality developers. The problem is that neither has been getting to the center of Prague in recent years.
It is necessary to restore hope to the city and its residents not only for the protection of the historical essence of the city but also for contemporary quality architecture that harmoniously complements it. Therefore, the exhibition culminates in a fundamental theme – examples of quality new buildings in historical environments that the Club has been mapping and awarding with the KZSP Prize for over 20 years. These are the best proof that the protection of the city can be combined with contemporary architecture. Long-term pressing heritage problems in the center of Prague can ultimately have meaningful solutions.
“The Club for Old Prague represents one of the oldest continually active associations in the Czech lands,” says Martin Strakoš, curator and heritage conservationist. “The Ostrava reprise is the first presentation outside Prague. What is essential is the inspiration for the establishment of the civic association For Old Ostrava and subsequently the informal group For Beautiful Ostrava. These initiatives significantly influenced the cultural events in our city at their time. Visitors to the exhibition will thus see the connections between the Club for Old Prague and Ostrava initiatives,” adds Martin Strakoš.
The Club for Old Prague was founded in 1900, which is over a century ago. At that time, just as today, it was an association of enthusiasts and experts striving not only to preserve the essence of historic Prague but also to strive for the highest quality contemporary architecture entering it. This is also the purpose of the exhibition, which focuses primarily on the period from 1990 to 2025.
Some of the city's problems are still similar to those of 1900 after 125 years. Both then and now, plans are being created that do not respect the character of the environment and take more from it than they give in return. The hallmark of many projects is not the quality of architecture but purely commercial interests and sharp elbows. This is how projects that contradict existing rules can proceed. The city needs good architecture and quality developers. The problem is that neither has been getting to the center of Prague in recent years.
It is necessary to restore hope to the city and its residents not only for the protection of the historical essence of the city but also for contemporary quality architecture that harmoniously complements it. Therefore, the exhibition culminates in a fundamental theme – examples of quality new buildings in historical environments that the Club has been mapping and awarding with the KZSP Prize for over 20 years. These are the best proof that the protection of the city can be combined with contemporary architecture. Long-term pressing heritage problems in the center of Prague can ultimately have meaningful solutions.
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