The Disappearing Legacy of Czechoslovak Brutalism: When Furniture and Architecture Formed One Universe

Why are we still so fascinated by buildings and interiors from the second half of the 20th century, and yet they are disappearing from the map of our cities so rapidly? A belated love for brutal beauty often comes only when pieces of concrete are already flying around us.

We live in a time when the memory of our cities is changing at a chillingly rapid pace. The era of Czechoslovak Brutalism and late Modernism was not merely about greyness and coldness, as many still mistakenly believe. It was an era of a profound architectural mindset based on the concept of Gesamtkunstwerk – a total work of art, where the architect or artist not only designed the perimeter walls but interconnected structure, light, materials, and custom-made furniture into one indivisible organism.

The Brutalist mindset was based on the courage to reveal material in its purest, most diverse, and roughest form – hence the name from the French béton brut (raw concrete). But it wasn't just about concrete. The Czechoslovak branch of this movement was unique for its artistic richness, where the rawness of the material met with plays of light, striking structures, glass, and perfectly crafted details.

A prime example of this visual language became the Prague Transgas complex, with its iconic cladding of dark, refractory Rakovník tiles, exposed interior piping, and futuristic metal furniture. Similarly bold statements are made by the New Stage of the National Theatre, enveloped in greenish-brown granite tiles and massive glass blocks, or the Kotva department store, where the rawness of the structure was balanced by a sophisticated, dark-toned interior.

Unfortunately, it is precisely this uncompromising vision that makes Brutalist buildings extremely vulnerable works. When original furniture is removed or surfaces are changed in such a space, the entire idea collapses. A tragic example of this misunderstanding was the insensitive liquidation of Olbram Zoubek's original furniture in the Prague café U Zlatého hada, or the fate of the Karlovy Vary Hotel Thermal by the Machonins, where thousands of custom-designed colourful armchairs ended up in landfills during modern renovations. The darkest chapter was written in 2019 when, despite huge protests from the public and experts, the Prague Transgas was completely demolished. On the other hand, Ještěd remains a shining exception and a symbol of hope, where today, thanks to a community of enthusiasts, faithful replicas of Otakar Binar's original organic furniture are being painstakingly returned to the restaurant.

A significant and in many ways symbolic figure of this era was the architect Karel Prager. As the author of the former Federal Assembly building, he created one of the most distinctive Brutalist structures in the Czech Republic – a monumental construction connecting steel, glass, and original artworks into one organic whole. Paradoxically, however, after the completion of this building, he was excluded from architectural competitions by the then-regime.

A fascinating contrast to his bold modernist work is his later involvement in the reconstruction of Josef Gočár's Cubist House of the Black Madonna. Prager approached this task with extraordinary sensitivity, humility, and deep respect for the original author. He thus showed that the key to architecture is understanding the value of the past – an approach and a lesson from history that the contemporary world often lacks when dealing with Brutalist heritage.

Visit the Brutalism Exhibition: Rescued Fragments of a Disappearing World

Come and touch history that has largely disappeared from our cities. From September 12, we invite you to the Brutalism exhibition, which we are organising in cooperation with Nanovo studio. You will have a unique opportunity to see original preserved fragments, designer furniture, and artistic details directly from iconic, yet now demolished or significantly transformed places.

You will see with your own eyes fragments of interior furnishings from the famous Hotel Praha, elements from the U Zlatého hada café with Olbram Zoubek's furniture, and other rare relics from an era when architecture and fine art formed an inseparable universe.

When: From September 12, Design Museum Prague, U Lužického semináře 86/11, 118 00 Malá Strana

We look forward to your visit!