Prague’s Hidden Gems to Open in May Thanks to Open House Prague 2025

Visitors will have free access to both public and private buildings, including historic palaces, representative villas, industrial landmarks, and contemporary buildings. The theme of this year’s festival is Past Heritage, Future Challenges. The thematic line builds on the festival's participation in the international project Open House Europe, which brings together partners from 16 European countries.

"As we step into the next decade, we bring fresh ideas, a diverse program, and collaborations with inspiring personalities, while staying true to our vision: to open the city to everyone, offering people the chance to explore the places they live in, to discover both the old and mysterious as well as the new and modern influences shaping our daily lives," says festival director Klára Veselá. She adds: "This year’s theme invites us to reflect not only on past architecture and its legacy but, most importantly, on what we will leave behind for future generations. Will it be timeless buildings? A city capable of facing new challenges? Or something unusable, unable to adapt?"

Schools for Future Generations

The festival’s accompanying program explores several key topics through thought-provoking lectures and discussions. This year’s guest curator, architect Osamu Okamura, has prepared a discussion series titled Schools for Future Generations. These discussions present

"Although heritage is often seen as timeless, every generation must rediscover its connection to the aspects that resonate with them. Heritage, as a deep source of inspiration, challenges us to think about what and why we leave behind for the next generations. The festival’s discussions, led by invited experts, will explore the architecture of our school buildings – where we pass on knowledge, culture, and the ability to learn. What values do we consider important, and what do these buildings say about us? Are these qualities and priorities reflected in their architecture?" asks architect and curator Osamu Okamura. 

This thematic focus will also be reflected in the weekend program. On May 17 and 18, visitors will be able to explore the smart, sustainable, and energy-positive revitalization of the Českobrodská High School and Gymnasium in Hrdlořezy. Originally built in the 1970s, this extensively renovated complex is now the most modern public building in Central and Eastern Europe. The school generates its own electricity, operates its own water treatment facility, and features automated lighting, temperature, and ventilation controls. The building also incorporates climbing greenery and a green roof garden.

Another must-visit site is the new "green” Pavilion for Tropical Agriculture at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Suchdol. This modern building uses plants to improve the microclimate and reduce energy consumption and has won the prestigious Adapterra Award for exemplary sustainable architecture in the face of climate change.

Can urban life be combined with the freedom and mobility of a rural childhood? A potential answer lies in forest kindergartens. Once established solely through private initiatives, they now include publicly funded programs. Visitors can explore the forest classroom of Milíčův Dům Kindergarten in Kapslovna Park, Žižkov. Opened in September 2024, the facility consists of three small wooden buildings with a bedroom, dining area, and composting toilets.

Forgotten Train Stations, Railway Anniversaries, and New Projects

This year’s festival visuals feature an iconic Prague landmark that no longer exists. Illustrator Jan Šrámek has depicted one of Central Europe’s most beautiful railway stations – Prague-Těšnov Station (Denis Station). 2025 marks 150 years since its opening and 40 years since its demolition to make way for a major highway.

"Our goal was to revive the memory of Těšnov Station, which is slowly fading. For younger generations, the story of this landmark can serve as inspiration and perhaps even spark an interest in the city’s history and future development. Prague still has many abandoned train stations, some of which are now finding new uses – like Stanice 6 in Bubeneč, or undergoing transformations, such as Masaryk Station and Prague-Bubny Station. Others, like Vyšehrad Station, may yet be saved after years of decay," says Andrea Šenkyříková, the festival’s creative director.

The fate of the train station and other railway structures in Prague will be reflected in the accompanying program through an exhibition of historical photographs in the former railway depot, lectures on the history of the railwayand future projects, guided walks between stations, and cycling tour around the planned pedestrian and cycling promenade along the former Vršovice railway line.

During the festival weekend, visitors will also have the opportunity to explore the former locomotive depot at Masaryk Railway Station, which witnessed the arrival of the first passenger train to Prague in August 1845 – exactly 180 years ago. This unique industrial complex was designed by architect Anton Jüngling under the supervision of Viennese architect Paul Sprenger, while the track layout was created by Jan Perner (*born 210 years ago, tragically died 180 years ago due to a train accident). Visitors will be able to experience the authentic atmosphere of this historic depot before its transformation into the Railway and Electrical Engineering Museum of the National Technical Museum, set to open in 2030.

News in the Open House Program

The Open House Prague festival will feature more than 30 new additions across 13 city districts. Among them are senior homes, embassy residences, dormitories, new residential and office projects, industrial buildings, castles, schools, gardens, historic palaces, cultural and sacred spaces.

SENIOR HOMES

For the first time, the festival will open senior centers designed by two Czech architects, Jan Línek and Vlado Milunić (co-author of the Dancing House). Their designs, inspired by a visit to Sweden, brought a pioneering and sensitive approach to senior housing in Prague. The Chodov senior home exemplifies a dignified and cozy living environment integrated with the surrounding world. Visitors can also explore the Nová slunečnice home, known for its striking yellow elements and a façade decorated by Czech pop-art pioneer Josef Mžyk. Additionally, the Palata home, which aids visually impaired individuals, will offer an interactive program where visitors can experience vision impairments through simulation glasses. A historical exhibition of photographs and plans of the neo-Renaissance building, originally built on the grounds of the former Horní Palata vineyard estate in Smíchov, will also be available.

EMBASSIES

This year, visitors will have a rare opportunity to enter the residences of two embassies. In Smíchov, Hodža’s Villa, home to the Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, will be open to the public. Built in the 1920s for Milan Hodža, a pre-WWII Czechoslovak prime minister, the villa features a commemorative plaque at its entrance. The Embassy of Lithuania, also located in a Smíchov villa, blends First Republic elegance with modern Lithuanian design. Its interiors, designed by Indrė Dorofėjūtė, won the Good Design 2020 award in Lithuania.

DORMITORIES

How do students live in Prague? The festival offers a unique chance to explore several historic dormitories: Budeč, Jednota, Krystal Center, Švehlova, Hlávkova, and Masaryk Dormitory. The Budeč dormitory, built in Vinohrady, was designed by functionalist architect Bohumír Kozák, evolving from modernism to classicizing expressionism. The Švehlova dormitory in Žižkov, celebrating its 100th anniversary, was designed by Otto Wagner’s student Jan Chládek in the rondocubist style. Visitors can explore its preserved interiors, including a grand theater hall used by the Venuše ve Švehlovce ensemble. The Krystal Center in Veleslavín, originally intended for students of the Communist Party’s Political School, now serves as a hotel, dormitory, and Charles University facility, boasting preserved post-war architecture, Pragotron clocks, and the original navigation system.

PRAGUE CASTLE

This year, the festival will grant rare access to the Hartig Garden, usually closed to the public. Originally part of the Hartig Palace, the garden was redesigned by architects Adolf Benš and Richard Podzemný. It features ivy-covered walls, a baroque music pavilion, and five sculptures by Antonín Braun, nephew of the renowned Matyáš Bernard Braun. Also hidden here is Plečnik’s Pavilion, a former winter garden now used for exhibitions.

REVITALIZED INDUSTRIAL SPACES

Several formerly industrial sites have been revitalized into new residential areas. The Lihovar Smíchov project references the area's distillery heritage with brick facades, sawtooth roofs, and chimneys, inspired by London’s King’s Cross. Another transformed space is the Nusle Brewery, which has evolved from an abandoned ruin into a new residential district, featuring loft apartments in refurbished historic buildings and new residential construction.

NEW OFFICE BUILDINGS

The festival also highlights innovative office buildings. Roztyly Plaza, completed in 2024, has won multiple prestigious awards, including the Building of the Year title, for its architectural purity, structural design, and thoughtful urban integration. The Hagibor project, with surroundings designed by landscape architect Michel Desvigne, seamlessly blends office spaces with nature and has earned a LEED Platinum certification for environmental sustainability.

PALACES

Prague’s palaces remain a festival highlight, with some opening for the first time. The baroque Mladotovský Palace (also known as Faust’s House) is steeped in legend, once owned by Rudolf II’s court alchemist Edward Kelley, rumored to have conducted diabolical experiments there. Another addition is the EGAP Palace in Vodičkova Street, featuring a functioning paternoster elevator and a rooftop terrace with unique city views. The recently restored Dunaj Palace on Národní třída, one of the finest works of German architect Adolf Foehr, now showcases its First Republic grandeur alongside modern technology. Visitors can explore its newly accessible atrium with a glass ceiling and a green rooftop terrace.

Architecture to Everyone

This year’s festival includes special tours for visually impaired visitors, the deaf, and children, with sign language interpretation, real-time transcription, tactile maps, and 3D building models. Guided tours in English and Ukrainian-language materials will be available for Prague’s international residents. More details can be found on the Barrier-Free and Children’s Program sections of the festival website.

INFO: Festival’s website.