Plzeň has the first comprehensive book on architecture of the last 200 years

Plzeň - The first attempt to map the architectural heritage of Plzeň over the last more than 200 years is the aim of a publication on architecture released by the city of Plzeň, thanks to an EU grant. The collective work with the succinct title Plzeň and texts in Czech and English will be available in libraries in the Plzeň Region and in selected specialized libraries in the Czech Republic. This was stated by the spokesperson of the city hall, Zdeňka Kubalová.
    "Through this publication, we want to draw the attention of citizens and visitors to the architectural gems of Plzeň and also take them to places that are off the beaten track. The work of the group of authors led by architect Petr Domanický will also be appreciated by professionals," said Mayor Martin Baxa (ODS).
    The guide to the city's architecture from the beginning of the 19th century is divided into two parts. The first is dedicated to the urban and architectural development up to 1800 and from 1801 to the present day. The second contains 255 entries about buildings and collections of buildings from the modern period. Seven sections cover parts of the city and neighboring municipalities. The entries include not only urban architecture but also technical buildings, interiors, parks, and vernacular architecture.
    "Plzeň is today a collection of remarkable individual buildings and places, whether historical or contemporary. I would be pleased if the book helps to increase interest in these values and consequently rehabilitate the public spaces located between these objects," said Domanický.
    The publication is the first book of its kind released in Plzeň. "It was neither conceptually nor in the selection of entries possible to build upon any older model," the architect stated. The book attempts to include buildings by German-speaking architects, which has not appeared in the professional literature so far. It also highlights the names of other nearly forgotten personalities in local architecture.
    In addition to contemporary photographs by Radovan Kodera, unique historical images from the collections of the West Bohemian Museum, the city and regional archive, as well as from private collections, are published.
    The preparation of the publication involved the West Bohemian Gallery, the West Bohemian Museum, the National Heritage Institute, the State Regional Archive, and the Archive of the City of Plzeň. 5,000 copies were published for nearly 900,000 crowns.