Open Letter for the Preservation of VPÚ in Žižkov

Odbor památkové péče
Magistrate of the Capital City of Prague
Jungmannova 35/29
11000 Prague 1-New Town

Dům Žižkov a.s.
Winston Churchill Square 1800/2,
13000 Prague 3-Žižkov


Open Letter for the Preservation of the Architectural Values of the Former General Pension Institute Building in Prague's Žižkov

Dear Sir or Madam,

We would like to request a reassessment of the currently under discussion proposal for the "revitalization" of the General Pension Institute building (later known as the House of Trade Unions, today the House of Joy) at Winston Churchill Square 2 (building nos. 1800, 1839, and 1840) in Prague's Žižkov. The project includes, among other things, the construction of extensions to individual wings of the building and additions to the open spaces between the wings, which would radically alter the existing volumetric structure of this valued and monumentally protected site.

The former General Pension Institute building, constructed between 1932 and 1934 according to the designs of architects Josef Havlíček and Karel Honzík, ranks among the most significant, highest quality, and most progressive functionalist buildings – not just in Czechoslovakia, but also on a pan-European scale. Evidence of this includes the absolutely exceptional publicity the building received shortly after its completion, both domestically and abroad. The overall architectural concept of the building, featuring open courtyards and an elevated main volume in a cross-shaped layout, as well as the advanced construction methods, technologies employed, and refinement of details, were all highly valued. The uniqueness and architectural qualities of the building are further evidenced by its inscription on the register of immovable cultural monuments of the Czech Republic.

We are convinced that a site of such significance and monumental value should be approached as sensitively as possible – both in its interiors and exteriors. The original mass composition of the building (including the open courtyards and existing number of floors) should indeed remain preserved. The proposed extensions to the side wings would disrupt the architectural composition of the whole, which is significantly based on the interplay of contrasts in the heights of the individual volumes. We also object to the construction in the open spaces of the "courtyards" between the wings of the building, which would lead to an undesirable densification of the functionalist layout, an important attribute of which is precisely its airiness and openness.

For the above reasons, we ask you to advocate for a reconstruction of the building that preserves its mass composition and is appropriately sensitive to both the building itself and its context within the surrounding urban structure. We consider the realization of the proposal in its currently discussed form to be devastating.


With thanks and respect


Ing. arch. Mgr. Klára Brůhová, Ph.D. – architectural historian
Mgr. Lukáš Beran, Ph.D. – architectural historian, Faculty of Architecture CTU in Prague
Mgr. Jan Zikmund, Ph.D. – architectural historian, VCPD Faculty of Architecture CTU in Prague
Mgr. Veronika Rollová, Ph.D. - art historian, UMPRUM
PhDr. Miroslav Pavel, Ph.D. – architectural historian, Faculty of Architecture CTU in Prague
Prof. Ing. arch. Petr Vorlík, Ph.D. – architectural historian, Faculty of Architecture CTU in Prague
Prof. ing. akad. arch. Jan Šépka - architect and educator, UMPRUM
Mgr. Karolina Jirkalová - architectural critic, Art Antiques magazine, UMPRUM
Prof. ing. arch. Mirko Baum - architect and educator, RWTH Aachen
Prof. akad. arch. Imro Vaško - architect, writer, educator, UMPRUM
Mgr. Ing. arch. Petr Klíma - architectural historian, UMPRUM, Pěstuj prostor
Mgr. Jakub Potůček - art historian, Prague
Ing. arch. MgA. Osamu Okamura - architect, dean and educator at FUA TUL
Mgr. et Mgr. Helena Huber-Doudová - curator of the Architecture Collection NGP
Mgr. Vendula Hnídková, Ph.D. - architectural historian, Institute of Art History, Czech Academy of Sciences
Ing. arch. MArch Jan Kristek, Ph.D. - architect, educator, and dean of the Faculty of Architecture VUT
Mgr. Ing. arch. Michaela Janečková - architectural historian, UMPRUM
Irena Lehkoživová, Ph.D. - architectural historian, Archive of Fine Arts, Gallery VI PER
Ing. Václav Jandáček - building statics, history of construction
Stanislav Kolařík - bookseller and architecture enthusiast
Ing. arch. Martin Krise, CSc. - architect, urban planner
Ing. arch. Miloš Solař, Ph.D. - heritage conservationist