Budova bývalé Státní plánovací komise Administrative building

Welcome to the Prague part Holešovice. Right now, you're standing in front of a building that has its size and its dominant influence on the surrounding area. In front of you is an object that served as the seat of the State Planning Commission. It is a building that carries the spirit of its time and reveals its administrative nature at first sight. Feel its mass and the way it fills the space in this part of town. It is a place where the country's direction has been decided in the past, and even though the situation is different today, the building still emits some kind of authority and order.

Let us now look at how this construction was created and who was behind its proposal. Two experts, Jaroslav Rössler and Václav Kavalír are responsible for the architectural design of the building. These authors created a space that was supposed to be functional and efficient, which was exactly the purpose for which the building was built. Although the exact date of its creation in our records is not specified in detail, it is clear that it was a project of great importance for the administration of the state at the time. The building was designed to accommodate a large number of officials and administrative staff who planned to develop the country economically and socially on a daily basis.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself. Look at the facade of the building and perceive its overall composition. Notice how individual elements are distributed and what the rhythm of the entire object is. Since it is an administrative structure, its appearance is moderate and focused on practical use of space. Take a look at the lines of the building and the way its meat spreads in the Holesovice area. It is an architecture that is not intended to dazzle unnecessary decoration, but rather to express stability and the system. It is this moderate elegance and functionality that you should be aware of.

When we think about the people who worked in these walls, we have to realize that the building was home to thousands of papers, calculations and plans. Although the specific names of the personalities that left an unforgettable mark are not listed in our list, we can imagine the atmosphere of the then offices. Imagine quiet corridors, the sound of typewriters and thousands of hours of work that took place here. It was a place where a quiet decision was made about what would be built, where new factories would be created and how they would be managed. It's a fascinating idea that one building could have been the center of such a complex management of the entire state organism.

You may now be wondering if there are any great mysteries or unknown stories attached to the building. That's where the secret of this place lies. Budova bývalé Státní plánovací komise is today registered as a cultural monument, which means that the state has recognised its historical and architectural value. The mystery, however, remains how powerful internal conflicts were reflected in these premises at the time and what discussions were held behind the closed doors of individual workers. It is a monument to a system that no longer exists, but its physical manifestation in the form of this building still persists and reminds us of how the management of society has been approached in the past.

When you look at the building, try to recognize the contrast between its then role as a power centre and its present form within the modern Prague. Holešovice has changed greatly in recent years, becoming a centre of culture and modern housing, and yet this building remains a fixed point that connects us to the past. He's a silent witness to the changes that our capital and the entire state have been through.

I suggest you stay in place for a while and let your eyes cross the entire outline of the building. Try to imagine what the street looked like when the building was new and what the impression was on the people who passed by it every day. Feel its weight and stability, which is typical of the administrative architecture of this type.

This concludes a short tour of the former State Planning Commission. I hope you enjoyed this view of the history of Holešovice and that you perceived the importance of this building as a cultural monument. You are now allowed to explore the surroundings of this fascinating neighborhood, which offers many other architectural and historical treasures. I wish you a pleasant continued walk in Prague and many new discoveries. Goodbye.