June 26 – October 11, 2026
OPEN-AIR EXHIBITION – Krenovka Courtyard, Husitská 22, Prague 3
Opening: June 26 at 6:00 p.m.
GUIDED WALKS THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL, INCLUDING A STOP AT KRENOVKA – July 9 and August 20; more details on the festival’s website and social media (including the accompanying program through October 11)
The Žižkov Link exhibition has two main objectives. The first is to present the development of the broader Lower Žižkov area and, above all, the emerging cultural cluster around the former Šibeniční vrch and the Krenovka estate in the context of the so-called “Prague Gordian Knot.” This term refers to a transportation brownfield bounded by the Main Railway Station, the U Bulhara intersection, Masaryk Station, and Florenc. The second objective is to provide long-term, strategic support for the development of public space led by the Prague 3 Municipal District, viewed through the lens of the historical backdrop of Žižkov and Královské Vinohrady. This is often a very complex and time-consuming process, because politicians, private investors, and citizens sometimes have differing views on how the shared spaces in our communities should be used and what their architectural and aesthetic value should be. A case in point is the recently opened Jiří z Poděbrad Square, where the process of design, permitting, securing political support, and implementation took more than 20 years. Another similar example is the revitalization of Vítkov Hill, where a competition for its transformation was held as early as 2000, and the first phase of revitalization was not completed until last year. Both locations are prominent sites and count among Prague’s gems. But the process was truly very protracted. We must hope that the transformation of the wider Florence area—which includes the Krenovka neighborhood—will not take another decade. Even though the transfer of this territory to the ownership of the Prague 3 district was, once again, complicated and took several years.
But the people of Žižkov are stubborn and don’t give up on their goals. And that’s one reason why this exhibition is able to showcase excellent examples of the preservation of Prague 3’s historic environment, in collaboration with leading Czech and international urban planners,
architects, and artists. Some projects are currently presented at the exhibition as visualizations, but many of them will be completed later this year. It can be said that Prague 3 serves as a showcase for the capital city of Prague in terms of the enhancement of public space and the integration of visual arts into the urban landscape. And that is also why Žižkov is called the Montmartre of Prague. It must be noted that many of these projects were funded from the city’s budget, and many are being developed in collaboration with the Prague Institute of Urban Planning (IPR). The role of enlightened private investors is also crucial; they recognize the need for financial support to enhance the quality of the urban landscape and very often initiate or carry out these projects themselves. One such example is the area between Prague’s main train station and Seifertova Street. We must trust that this green corridor will continue with the transformation of the Krenovka and Florence 21 areas, connecting to Karlín and Vítkov Hill. It will then extend to Ohrada and, across Želivského Street, to another crucial site in Žižkov: the Žižkov Freight Station. A separate exhibition dedicated to the transformation of the Žižkov Freight Station will open in early September.
The Krenovka site itself, with its rich history, is an example of grassroots activism. Of course, this has been supported by the leadership of the Žižkov City Hall. Discussions about the untapped potential of the former Šibeniční vrch and the remaining railway embankment began in 2018, when wooden stairs were built in the immediate vicinity of Ponec as part of the Landscape Festival, named the Žižkov Highline (Archwerk studio). Subsequently, Sudop Real purchased the building—which had once housed a ticket printing facility, among other uses—and transformed it into a new cultural and community center. Today, it is home to part of the operations of the Ponec Theater and Tance Praha, Unijazz with its iconic Čítárna, and other nonprofit and cultural platforms. Among them are the art hub Trať 42 and the Architectura association, which previously operated the Jaroslav Fragner Architecture Gallery and relocated here in 2023. As part of its efforts to participate in the transformation of the broader Florence area, Architectura organized the international workshop “The Prague Gordian Knot,” which presented student-led alternatives for Florence’s future development in connection with the wider center of Prague. This potential is also reflected in the activities at the Karlín Barracks, which now house UMPRUM (the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design). This entire broader area can be considered a cultural and social campus with enormous intellectual potential. Proof of this is the new lease on life for the Military History Institute and the Army Museum in Žižkov, which began following their renovation in October 2022. We’ll see if the idea of the House of Dance, which is intended to build on the work of the Ponec Theater, will come to fruition. The Ponec Theater has been based in lower Žižkov since 2001.
There’s no need to list all the projects featured in the exhibition here. It is a rich and creative mosaic of contemporary architecture, design, and visual culture. The exhibition can be viewed both as a guide mapping these activities in the Prague 3 district and as a testament to the enlightened leadership of the Žižkov City Hall, which, through its commitment to its vision, demonstrates the potential for creating inspiring living environments in today’s highly complex geopolitical and economic situation—not merely as an aesthetic backdrop, but also as a space for social inclusion.
We must view public space as a space for all social groups, gender identities, and diverse worldviews.
Dan Merta, Žižkov 2026
