Klárův ústav slepců Building complex

Klárův ústav slepců in Prague 1 is a complex of buildings founded in 1807 by philanthropist Alois Klarem. This institution, focused on the education and employment of the blind, was an innovative approach to social care in Czech countries.

The Institute was founded by Professor Alois Klar and his wife Rosina, son Paul Alois and his wife Caroline Maria Vratislav of Mitrovich. The goal was to teach blind children the skills needed for a separate life when social security was missing. The first director was the Government Council of Prokop Knight von Platzer und Wohnsiedel, who ran the Institute until 1825. Then Alois Klar, who focused on education, took charge.

Klar thought that inmates should leave the Institute at the age of 20 and set up an adult employment institution over 50. He was inspired by the Vienna Institute of J. W. Klein in this intention. In 1832 he received a financial gift from the Empress and from the Emperor Franz I. land in today's Clara Square. Due to the terrain conditions, the foundations had to be dug up to a depth of seven and a half meters below the level of the Vltava and reinforced by piloting. The site was also selected because of the alleged recovery of the water from Brusnice.

A complex of buildings on a rectangular floor plan with a garden was created between 1836 and 1844 according to the projects of architects Vincent Kuhlánek and Josef Kranner. The decoration was completed between 1884 and 1885 by the grandson of the founder, Rudolf Maria Klár. On the shield of the building is the relief of Josef Max showing a biblical story about the recovery of blind Tobit. The facility also included a neighbouring building with a swimming pool, which is currently empty.

An important part is the chapel of St. Archangel Rafael, consecrated in 1838. The interior is decorated with frescoes by František Sequens, Emanuel Krescence Liška, Vojtěch Bartoněk and Antonín Lhota. The Mosaics were carried out by Wilhelm Kandler and Antonín Lhota according to the cartons of Josef Führich. The main altar was decorated by the marble statue of the archangel Rafael by Josef Max, which after the cancellation of the chapel around 1955 was transferred to the depository of the National Gallery in Prague. Marble busts of founders created by Emanuel Max and Josef Kamil Alois Böhm are located in the nobodies of the ship. Under the main altar there is a crypt where Alois and Rosina Klár are buried.

The building served the blind until the mid-20th century, then was taken over by the Planning Office and other institutions. Since 1993, the Czech Geological Service has been based here.

Klárův ústav slepců remains an important witness to early philanthropism and welfare. It is a place where architectural ambitions are combined with a particular human purpose to help the disadvantaged, and it is therefore worth a visit.