Open House Praha is a festival of architecture that takes place in the Czech Republic’s capital city. The festival showcases a range of architecture, from modern buildings to historical villas, churches, and palaces. The event combines entertainment with education, allowing visitors to explore buildings and gardens from different periods, styles, and materials.
The festival began on May 15, 2023, with a program of guided walks, building tours, lectures, and debates. Some of these events require prior registration or the purchase of tickets. Visitors will also have access to an information center at the Nová scéna Národního divadla, one of this year’s festival highlights.
The central part of the festival takes place on the weekend of May 20-21, during which 109 buildings and other spaces that are typically not open to the public will be free for visitors to explore. Most of these structures will be open from 10 am to 6 pm on both days.
One of the main themes of this year’s festival is the 100th anniversary of the birth of architect Karel Prager, who significantly impacted Prague’s appearance in the second half of the 20th century. In addition to opening some of Prager’s buildings to the public over the weekend, the festival will include other events.
The festival will also honor the 200th anniversary of the birth of architect Antonín Viktor Barvitius, a prominent representative of the neo-Renaissance style in Prague. His works included well-known villas, churches, and the now-demolished Těšnov train station.
The festival offers architecture enthusiasts and the general public a rare opportunity to explore some of Prague’s most significant buildings. It provides a chance to learn about the city’s architectural history and how it has evolved.