What connects the building of the former Federal Assembly near Wenceslas Square, the Pyramida hotel in Břevnov, the dispatching office of the Public Transport Company in Vinohrady, or the Žižkov Tower? These structures, which were mostly built during the period known as normalization, repeatedly appear in rankings and public assessments as the "ugliest" in Prague. However, some professionals in the field, architects, and artists discover overlooked qualities in these buildings at first glance and disagree with the evaluations. The Scholastika platform, which will become a higher vocational school in 2016, will conduct a cycle of guided tours of selected buildings this autumn, offering the public a different perspective on Prague's "ugliest" architecture.
“Finding something interesting and enriching even in architecture that appears different at first glance and possibly controversial can be a way to understand other forms of art and our society,” explains the director of the higher vocational school Scholastika and artist Evžen Šimera. Therefore, in the autumn, the school will offer the public free tours of selected objects in Prague, with expert commentary from invited contemporary art, architecture, or design personalities.
The first building where the journey into the ugliest Prague architecture begins is the New Stage of the National Theatre on Národní Street. The object was built between 1977 and 1983 according to the design of architect Karel Prager. Since its completion, the New Stage has been one of the most discussed buildings in Prague, which has also earned many sarcastic nicknames. The building, confidently overlooking Národní Street, is divided into two parts: the one adjacent to the baroque monastery is calm, transparent, with a smooth shell made of thermally treated glass. The second part rises on massive pillars, between which a free passage to the theatre piazzetta opens, and thanks to glass blocks, it appears as an independent sculpture. However, not everyone sees quality and architectural value in its uniqueness.
The public will be guided through the New Stage by musician, artist, and admirer of architect Karel Prager’s work, Vladimír 518. He will lead interested parties into the building's spaces and offer a slightly different perspective on this controversial structure. "It is important to highlight the quality of these buildings to the public to avoid a situation similar to the former Hotel Prague,” says the artist, who has already been associated with Prager's work in several previous projects. In addition to the guided tour of the New Stage's spaces, visitors can also look forward to a video presentation prepared by Vladimír, which maps the period from the Brussels Expo '58 to the Velvet Revolution in 1989, and a commentary by sculptor Pavel Karous on the artworks located in the New Stage building and its surroundings.
The guided tour of the building with commentary and video projection by Vladimír 518 will take place on September 23, 2015, at 5 PM. Capacity is limited, so it is necessary to reserve spots in advance. Admission to the event is free.
During the autumn, tours of other buildings will continue. Among the personalities who will introduce the public to the architecture of these buildings, their inventory, or hidden details will be, for example, architect and popularizer of architecture Adam Gebrian or the founder of Era 21 magazine and currently the curator of the Moravian Gallery in Brno, Rostislav Koryčánek.

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