Kongresové centrum Praha Building

Welcome to Prague 4, Nusle section. You're standing in front of one of the most significant buildings in this part of town. In front of you is a vast complex that you see as a monumental space designed to meet thousands of people. It is a place where the functions, space and ambition of the city are combined. If you look at the total size of the building, you're probably interested in its size and the way it dominates the landscape on the edge of the Nusel Valley. This position is crucial because it offers a unique view of the surrounding area and also separates two parts of urban tissue. Now let's go back a little bit in time and see how this place started. It all began in 1971 when the Prague Territorial Plan envisaged the creation of a large service centre right here on the southern edge of Pankrácké pláně. There was a need to create space that could accommodate a huge number of people and serve as a representative place for the state and the city. A year later, in 1972, there was a competition for a building project. The goal was to create a space that was modern, effective and at the same time large enough to host events of global importance. Originally created under the name Palace of Culture and has since been the largest centre for gatherings and conferences throughout the Czech Republic. Now pay attention to the architecture itself. The building is performed in neofunctionalist style. This means that her appearance is primarily determined by her function. Note the clean lines and the extent of the entire object. The architect behind this project was Vladimír Conk. When you look at the building, feel its massiveness, but it is not engorging but rather organized. The entire complex is designed to handle the movement of thousands of visitors at once. If you look at the layout of the space, you'll find that the building has a total of 7,000 rooms. This is an incredible amount of space that allows many different events to take place simultaneously, from small work meetings to a huge gathering. When we think about who worked here or who visited here, we have to talk about thousands of travelers from all over the world. Even if we do not find one particular historical personality that is connected to the building as its creator or permanent resident, this building is home to an international community of experts and cultural creators. The building became a symbol of Prague's openness to the world. It's where people from different continents meet to discuss science, politics, or art. This international dimension has become stronger in recent years. In 2017 Prague became the eighth most popular destination for conference travelers worldwide thanks to this centre. And in 2022, thanks to the capacity of this place, the city even reached the top five places in the world to meet according to the international convention organizers' association. Now I want to impress you with some interesting things that are not visible at first sight, but that make this place a real one. First, consider the scope of the capacities. The entire complex can accommodate up to 9,000 300 people. Imagine the amount of people in one space. But size isn't everything, quality is important. If you had the chance to enter the largest hall, you would find that his acoustics are top-notch. Experts place it in the thirtieth place in the worldwide order, which means the sound is almost perfect here. In addition to technical parameters, the building is also a home of art. The interior is decorated with about two hundred works of art. These include, for example, a glass sculpture called Tree, which brings to the functional space an element of nature and fragility. It's a fascinating contrast between massive concrete construction and glass finesse. And if you look up at the roof, which you don't have to see from this angle in full width, there's a solar power plant. It helps the building to be more sustainable and use energy from the sun, which is a modern addition to the original project. So you're standing in front of a construction that's much more than just a concrete complex. It's a communication machine, a culture center and a technological unique. It is a place that has helped Prague gain recognition on a global scale and has shown that our capital city can host the biggest events in the world. I now invite you to look around slowly, to see the atmosphere of this place and perhaps try to imagine what discussions and meetings took place in these halls over the decades. Explore the surroundings of the Nusel Valley and see how this building is inscribed in the panorama of Prague. Thank you for your attention and wish you a pleasant further walk around our beautiful city.