Open letter from architects and architectural theorists in support of preserving the project for the Revitalization of Prague's riverbanks

Dear Mr. Mayor, esteemed council of the capital city of Prague,
we turn to you with a call to continue and protect the project of Revitalization of Prague's riverbanks according to the approved concept from 2017. This unique initiative, executed in both the socio-cultural and architectural dimensions, has become a symbol of the transformation of public space in Prague over more than 15 years and an internationally recognized example of a sensitive connection between historical heritage and contemporary architecture, along with a vibrant cultural life.
The riverbank, in its current form, was created by bottom-up activation and transformed from an abandoned parking area into one of the liveliest cultural and social places in the city. The architectural cultivation carried out, the first of its kind in the post-revolutionary history of the city, created a new typology where the reconstructed niches of the riverbank wall function as "nooks" seamlessly connecting the interior with the exterior, the riverbank with the river. This concept, authored by Petr Janda and the brainwork studio, brought not only high aesthetic quality but also openness to visitors of all social strata seeking culture and relaxation.
The Prague riverbank has become an inspiration for similar projects in the Czech Republic and abroad - and is cited as a model of cultivated intervention into public riverbank space around the world. Thanks to it, Prague has again made its mark on the map of world architecture as a city capable of creating contemporary, functional, and extraordinarily high-quality public spaces with respect to history. It has been cited as a model of sustainable approach in revitalizing public spaces within the EU program New European Bauhaus and ranked among the forty most significant architectural realizations in Europe in the prestigious Mies van der Rohe Award, an achievement that did not include Prague or Czech architecture for a long nineteen years.
However, this success is now under threat. The current management of the space does not correspond to its significance, maintenance is insufficient, and there is a lack of will to continue towards the completion of the original proposal. Decision-making is guided solely by the pursuit of the lowest price, despite the fact that this is a valuable area in a heritage zone where quality and respect for the place should be a priority. The reported costs have risen primarily due to delays and inflation, similar to other Prague projects that would never have come into existence with the same approach. The future of the riverbank must be decided with regard to its cultural, historical, and urban value. Investment in quality and authenticity pays back many times – in the prestige of the city, international recognition, tourist interest, and everyday utility for the residents of Prague.
The Prague riverbank is not just a place for leisure. It is proof that a modern city can sensitively connect with its history, create space open to all, and inspire the world. Such values must be protected and developed.
We therefore ask you to revoke the decision to terminate this project and to continue its implementation according to this comprehensive concept.

In Prague on September 10, 2025

The letter is signed, in alphabetical order:

Ing. arch. Jan Aulík

Ing. Václav Babka

Ing. arch. Zdeněk Balík

Ing. arch. Alexandra Andreea Bajan

Ing. arch. Daria Balejová Bártová

Ing arch. Stanislav Bažant

doc. Ing. arch. Ondřej Beneš, Ph.D.

Dipl. arch. USI-AAM Michaela Benešová

Ing. arch. David Beran

Ing. arch. Martin Beránek

Ing. arch. Michal Bílek

Ing. arch. Marek Blank

Ing. arch. Lukáš Brom

Vladimír Brož (Vladimír 518) - architecture promoter

Ing. arch. Marián Bunganič

Ing. arch. Magdaléna Buza

doc. Ing. arch. Jakub Cigler

Ing. arch. Jan Cyrany

MgA. Josef Čančík

Mgr. Helena Čapková, MA, Ph.D. – art historian at Ritsumeikan University, Japan and ARCHIP

MgA. Ida Čapounová

Ing. arch. Ondřej Černý

Ing. arch. Vítězslav Danda

MgA. Jan Darks

Ing. akad. arch. Marie Davidová

Ing. arch. Tomáš Drdácký

Adam Dvořák, MSc.

doc. Ing. arch. Tomáš Efler

Ing. arch. Lukáš Ehl

Ing. arch. Zdeněk Eichler

Ing. arch. Eva Eichlerová

Ing. Štěpánka Endrle

Ing. arch. Irakli Eristavi

Ing. arch. Karel Filsak

Ing. arch. Marek Fischer

Ing. arch. Jana Fischerová

Ing. arch. Jakub Fišer

Ing. Martina Forejtová

Arch. Maciej Franta – Polish architect

Kazunori Fujimoto, B.Eng. – Japanese architect

Ing. arch. Michal Gabaš

Tomáš Gajdošík

Ing. arch. MArch. Adam Gebrian – theorist and promoter of architecture

Alexandra Georgescu, MA

Ing. arch. Lukáš Gergela

Ing. arch. Tadeáš Goryczka

Ing. arch. Anna Beata Háblová, Ph.D.

prof. Ing. Mgr. akad. arch. Petr Hájek

Ing. arch. Petra Hämmerle

Ing. arch. Zdenka Havlová

Ing. arch. Martin Hajný

Dip. Arch. Krištof Hanzlík

Ing. arch. Jakub Havlas

Ing. arch. ak. arch. Jan Hendrych

Ing. arch. Jakub Hemzal

Ing. arch. Richard Heger

Ing. arch. Ivo Herman

Ing. arch. Ondřej Hilský

Ing. Petr Hnátek

Ing. arch. Pavel Hnilička

Ing. arch. Max Hoffmeister

Ing. arch. Patrik Hoffman

Mgr. Ondřej Hojda, Ph.D. - theorist of architecture, university lecturer

Vojtěch Horák, M. Sc

Ing. arch. Tomáš Horalík

Ing. arch. Jan Horký

Ing. arch. Jiří Horský – long-time editor of the magazine Architekt

doc. Ing. arch. Tomáš Hradečný

Ing. arch. Kateřina Hroncová

David Chmelař

Ing. arch. Ondřej Chybík

Ing. arch. Veronika Indrová

Ing. arch. Lukáš Janáč

Ing. arch. Martin Jančok

Ing. arch. Ing. Jiří Janďourek

Ing. arch. Aleš Janoušek

Ing. arch. Radek Jánošík

Ing. arch. Radek Jaroušek

Ing. et Ing. Tomáš Jiránek

Ing. Adéla Jiránková

Ing. Jitka Jiránková

MgA. Adam Jirkal

Mgr. akad. arch. Pavel Joba

Ing. arch. Barbora Jobová

Ing. arch. Viktor Johanis

Ing. arch. Blanka Johanisová

Ing. arch. Vojtěch Kaas

prof. PhDr. Pavel Kalina, Ph.D. - art and architecture historian and university lecturer

Ing. arch. Martin Kalhous

Ing. arch. Jan Kasl – architect, emeritus mayor of the capital city of Prague, chairman of the Czech Chamber of Architects

Ing. arch. David Kazický

Ing. arch. Jan Klaška – BIG, Czech architect operating in New York

Doc. Ing. arch. Akad. arch. Ir. Jiří Klokočka

Ing. arch. Josef Kocián

M.Sc. in Arch. Robert Konieczny – Polish architect, KWK PROMES

MgA. Marek Kopeć

Ing. arch. Jakub Kopec

Mgr. Rostislav Koryčánek – architecture theorist

Mgr. Jana Kostelecká – architecture promoter

Ing. arch. David Kotek

Ing. arch. Tomáš Koumar

MgA. Jerry Koza

MgA. Martin Kožnar

Ing. arch. David Kraus

akad. arch. Ladislav Kuba

Ing. arch. Aleš Kubalík

MgA. David Kubík

Ing. arch. Štěpán Kubíček

prof. Ing. arch. Ladislav Lábus, Hon. FAIA - emeritus dean of the Faculty of Architecture at CTU

Ing. arch. Filip Landa - editor-in-chief of ERA21 magazine

Ing. arch. Peter Lényi

Jiri Lev MArch BDesArch - Czech-Australian architect, urban planner, and court expert

Ing. arch. Veronika Líbalová

Ing. arch. Miloš Linhart

Ing.arch. MgA Ondřej Lipenský - film architect

Ing. arch. Radek Lizna

Ing. arch. Tereza Liznová

Ing. arch. Regina Loukotová, Ph.D. – rector of ARCHIP

MgA. Samuel Lövy

Ing. arch. Zdeněk Lukeš - architecture historian, journalist, and university lecturer

Ing. arch. Jan Mach

Winy Maas – Dutch architect, MVRDV

Ing. arch. Oskar Madro

Ing. arch. Anna Machátová

Ing. arch. Kateřina Maierová

Arch. Marco Maio – Portuguese architect and educator

Ing. arch. David Macháček

Ing. arch. Pavel Martinek

akad. arch. Vít Máslo

Ing. arch. MgA. David Mateásko

Mgr. Dan Merta – gallerist and curator, former director of the Jaroslav Fragner Gallery

Ing. arch. Alena Mičeková

Ing. arch. Lenka Míková

Ing. arch. MgA. Juraj Mišík

Prof Phd Arch Enrico Molteni - Italian architect and university educator

Ing. arch. Jana Moravcová

Ing. arch. Anna Myts

Ing. arch. Petr Nacházel

Ing. arch. Zuzana Nacházelová

Ing. arch. MgA. Pavel Nasadil

Ing. arch. Jakub Našinec

Ing. arch. Václav Navrátil

Ing. arch. Oleksandr Nebozhenko

prof. M.A. Jan Němeček

Ing. arch. Martin Neruda

Ing. arch. Ing. David Neuhäusl

Ing. arch. Silvia Novosadová

Ing. arch. Dominika Novotná

Ing. arch. Martina Novotná

Ing. arch. Jindřich Nový

Ing. arch. František Novotný

Ma. arch. Josef B. Novotný

Ing. arch. Luděk Obal

Ing. arch. Marek Obtulovič – Czech architect operating in Vietnam

Ing. arch. MgA Osamu Okamura – emeritus dean of FUA TUL

Ing. arch. Tomáš Oth

Ing. arch. Pavol Paňák

Ing. arch. Boleslav Pazdziora

Ing. Jiří Pekárek

Ing. arch. Michaela Pekárková

Georg Pendl architect dipl.ing. ZT HON AIA - Austrian architect

Ing. arch. Jan Pernekr

Štěpán Perný

Ing. arch. Tomáš Petrášek

prof. Mgr. Miroslav Petříček, Dr. - philosopher, estetician, professor at the Faculty of Arts at Charles University

Ing. arch. Lukáš Pinkava

Ing. arch. Josef Pleskot

Ing. arch. Luděk Podlipný

Ing. arch. Anna Podroužková

Ing. Miroslav Pospíšil

prof. Mgr. Tomáš Pospiszyl, Ph.D. - rector of AVU

Mgr. Jakub Potůček – architecture theorist

Ing. arch. Ondřej Pšenčík

Ing. Jana Pyšková

Prof. Ing. arch. Martin Rajniš

Ing. arch. MgA. Jindřich Ráftl, Ph.D.

Ing. arch. Magdalena Rochová

Ing. arch. Michal Rouha

Mgr inž. arch. Szymon Rozwałka

Ing. arch. Jiří Řezák

Ing. arch. Jan Sapák

Ing. arch. Veronika Sávová

Ind. arch. Alena Sedláková

doc. Ing. arch. Radomíra Sedláková, CSc. - architecture theorist

Ing. arch. MgA. Šimon Semerák

Ing. Milota Sidorová, Ph.D.

Ing. arch. Jan Schindler-Wisten

Ing. arch. Marek Schneider

Ing. arch. Svatopluk Sládeček

Ing. arch. Martin Sládek

Ing. Martin Sladký

Ing. arch. Nikoleta Slováková

Ing. arch. Jaroslav Smejkal

Ing. arch. Lukáš Smetana

Ing. arch. Ilona Soldo

Ing. arch. Vojtěch Sosna

Ing. arch. Markéta Smrčková

Ing. arch. Barbora Smutná

Ing. arch. Josef Smutný

Ing. arch. Juraj Smoleň

Ing. arch. Jan Stáhala

MgA. Tamara Staňková

Ing. arch. Jiří Stejskalík

doc. M. A. Jan Stolín – dean of FUA TUL

doc. Ing. arch. Petr Stolín

Ing. arch. Ján Studený

Ing. arch. Radek Suchánek Ph.D. – dean of the Faculty of Architecture at VUT in Brno

doc. PhDr. Oldřich Ševčík, CSc. - historian and theorist of architecture

Ing. arch. MArch. Janica Šipulová

Ing. Jindřich Schindler

Ing. arch. Michal Schwarz

Ing. arch. Jiří Šmejkal

Ing. arch. Jan Šorm

Ing. arch. Petr Štefek

Adam Štěch – architecture popularizer

Ing. arch. Marek Štěpán

Ing. arch. Pavel Táborský

Ing. arch. Lukáš Taller

Ing. MgA. Ing. arch. Petr Tej, Ph.D. et Ph.D.

MgA. Adam Tippl

Ing. arch. Štěpán Tláskal

Ing. arch. Štěpán Toman

Ing. arch. Martin Tomáš

Ing. Jitka Tomsová, Ph.D.

Doc. MgA. Shota Tsikoliya, Ph.D. M.Sc.

Ing. arch. Jan Tůma, Ph.D.

Ing. arch. Jan Tyrpekl, Ph.D.

Ing. arch. MgA. Petr Uhlík

Ing. arch. Pavel Uličný

Dr.-Ing. Milan Urban

Ing. arch. Štěpán Valouch

prof. ak. arch. Imrich Vaško – architect, journalist, and university educator

Ing. arch. Yvette Vašourková

Ing. arch. Vladimír Vašut

Ing. arch. Erika Vašutová

akad. arch. David Vávra - architect, actor, and writer

Ing. arch. Jan Veisser

Ing. arch. Veronika Veselá

Ing. arch. Tomáš Vích

MArch Ing. arch. Ing. Jiří Vítek Ph.D.

Ing. arch. Milena Vitoulová

MgA. Viktor Vlach

Ing. arch. Jan Vondrák

Ing. arch. Radek Vopalecký

Ing. arch. Eva Vopátková

prof. Ing. arch. Petr Vorlík, Ph.D. – architect and university educator

prof. Ing. arch. Robert Votický

prof. PhDr. et PaedDr. Jindřich Vybíral DSc. – rector of UMPRUM

MgA. Jan Vybíral

Ing. arch. Jiří Weinzettl

Ing.arch. Rudolf Wiszczor

MgA. Pavla Wiszczorová,

MgA. Jan Zajíček - director of the film Architecture 58–⁠89

Ing. arch. David Zalabák

Ing. arch. Tomáš Zavoral

Doc. Mgr. A. Zdena Němcová Zedníčková, Ph.D.

Ing. arch. Dagmar Zimová

Ing. arch. Michaela Zucconi