The architectural world is currently undergoing a significant shift towards adaptive reuse, promoting the intelligent and sustainable renovation of existing structures. This movement has broadened the scope of preservation, extending beyond conventionally beautiful buildings and favored architectural styles to embrace previously overlooked gems. Brutalism, once deemed an uncompromising and aesthetically challenging style by some, is now gaining long-overdue recognition. While some criticize its perceived lack of elegance and experimental nature, others admire its innovative and expressive qualities, viewing it as a bold evolution of clean-lined modernism.
A prime example of this newfound appreciation is the Fairmont Golden Hotel in Prague. This central landmark, originally known as Inter-Continental Praha, has been meticulously revitalized, demonstrating profound respect for its Brutalist heritage. Built in 1974 by the distinguished architect Karel Filsak, the hotel is characterized by its imposing yet textured nine-story facade and distinctive overhanging top level. As an early American investment in the then Soviet-controlled Eastern Bloc, it integrated numerous artistic and design elements that underscored Czechoslovakia's rich heritage in these fields.
Over time, as the country experienced profound political and social changes, the hotel gradually fell into disrepair. A renovation in 2002, though somewhat disorganized, managed to preserve key features of Filsak’s original vision. However, it was the more recent transformation, unveiled in 2025, that truly aimed to honor the architect’s holistic design philosophy. Today, the Fairmont Golden Prague transcends its function as mere accommodation, establishing itself as a dynamic social and cultural nexus that sensitively narrates the intricate history of Prague and the Czech Republic.
This extensive revitalization initiative was spearheaded by entrepreneurs Pavel Baudiš, Eduard Kučera, and Oldřich Šlemr, all of whom share a profound connection to the site. TaK Architects, a local firm led by Marek Tichý, was tasked with seamlessly integrating the hotel's historical vestiges with an array of contemporary facilities, including an outdoor swimming area, an expanded restaurant section, and a new conference annex.
Tichý’s design strategy also prioritized reconnecting the hotel with its urban surroundings. A transparent extension, artfully framed by lush greenery, now extends towards the Dvořák Embankment and the picturesque promenade along the Vltava River. This new addition also incorporates a publicly accessible art gallery, effectively breaking down the perceived barriers of what might otherwise appear as an inaccessible stronghold.
Despite the structural challenges posed by the aging glass, concrete, and wood edifice, which necessitated the installation of new supporting elements, original features such as sculptor Zbyněk Sekal’s ceramic facade were painstakingly restored. The modular, coffered, and pill-shaped ceiling of the conference hall, originally conceived by Jan Šrámek, underwent a similar meticulous process. Each recess was skillfully renewed and adorned with René Roubíček glass chandeliers, celebrating the nation’s enduring expertise in manipulating and industrializing this natural material.
The Zlatá restaurant has been re-decorated with gilded fixtures by Hugo Demartini and glass screens from the Sallinger glassworks. Furthermore, Čestmír Kafka’s wooden ceiling reliefs and fragments of Miloslav Hejný’s “Enchanted Forest” columnar sculpture have been carefully reintegrated. While some architectural components no longer serve a structural purpose, they are now showcased as suspended or freestanding art pieces, transforming the building into a historical palimpsest. Tichý also incorporated works and treatments by approximately 20 contemporary artists and artisans, aligning with the Fairmont Golden Prague’s “crafted industrial” philosophy.