Nová strašnická škola School building

Welcome to the 10th district of Prague. Right now, you're standing in front of a building that carries a deep story of education, dramatic history and incredible transformations. Take your earphones off for a while and put them back on, because we're gonna take you on a journey through time. In front of you is a building that, after long years of decaying and uncertainties, comes back to life and today serves its original purpose as a primary school. Let us dive together into her rich history and explore every detail that this extraordinary monument offers.

When you look closely at each other, you see a magnificent structure whose roots go back to the first decade of the last century. The year was nineteen hundred and nine when this main building was built. Its form was not created by accident, but it came from the ideas and plans of a capable creator who was the architect Josef Domek. The development of this district in Prague called for modern spaces for children's education, and thus a building was built to serve many future generations. The architectural concept bears the distinctive features of the then modern artistic direction, which celebrated beauty, fine lines and connection of utility with aesthetics. Pay attention to the overall sounds of the facade and the proportions of the building, which, even after over a hundred years, give respect and admiration.

Less than two decades later, namely in nineteen hundred twenty-seven, work started to develop this place further. That is when the construction of the new extension, which was successfully completed two years later, started in nineteenth century. This new section sensitively supplemented the original architectural basis and extended the possibilities for teaching an ever-increasing number of pupils. The building grew along with the city and became a natural center of social and cultural events in the surroundings.

The darkest, but also the most famous, chapter is connected to this building in the troubled days of the end of World War II. In May, nineteen hundred forty-five, instead of a quiet school education, became the center of major historical events. This school served as the headquarters of the armed forces during the Prague May uprising. In these walls, the fate of many people was decided, steps were planned to be liberated, and the building was so indelibly written into the modern history of our nation. When you walk around these walls today, try to close your eyes for a moment and imagine the tense atmosphere of the spring days of the year forty-five, when people here fought for freedom with their own lives.

Let's move forward in time. For decades, the building was fulfilling its mission, but there was also a period of decline. After a year of twenty-sests, there was a long period of decaying, when the building was losing its former glare and glory, and no one was sure at that time what fate this important building was facing. Yet there were no people who could break her staff. The breaking point occurred in the year twenty-sixteen, when this Art Nouveau building was officially listed as a cultural landmark. This recognised its huge historical and architectural value for the whole city and the Republic.

A real miracle in the form of a rescue and a new breath then came recently. Between twenty-two and twenty-five, the whole building underwent a major and challenging reconstruction. The dilapidated spaces had a thorough restoration, which restored the construction of its original beauty, but also equipped it with everything needed for modern teaching of the twenty-first century. The result of this huge effort is that in the year twenty-five, the overall reconstruction was completed and the children's laughter and the excitement of teaching returned to the school. Today, this monument is once again proud to stand in its place and perform the task for which it was created over a century ago.

Stop for a moment and feel the atmosphere of this place. You are at the address where the art of the old masters is enacted with the drama of great history and joy from a new beginning. We believe that this stop has been rewarding for you and that with your eyes open, you will explore other interesting places in our capital. Thank you for listening, we wish you a wonderful rest of the day and goodbye to other history stories from Prague.