I'm moving to Holešovice: The industrial area has become a residential district filled with modern art and architecture
The village was located in the meander of the Vltava river for centuries before the industrial revolution arrived. The production halls in Holešovice often no longer serve their original purpose and have attracted lovers of modern art and architecture, which is the case of the DOX gallery or Vnitroblock. Today, the district has the character of a residential area, which attracts modern architecture and dynamically changes its character for the purpose of comfortable living even in smaller details, such as the project of reconstruction of inner blocks in older buildings.
The Slavs settled around the Vltava river at the site of today's Holešovice sometime in the 6th century. Traditionally, they were dedicated to fishing and connected their life with the rhythm of Vltava floods. For many centuries, not much changed. The village, probably named after a beardless man "Holeš", was still a larger village with approximately 3,000 inhabitants in the mid-19th century, but after the establishment of the first republic, Holešovice became one of the most populated parts of Prague, housing nearly 50,000 people in the 1920s.
Today, significantly fewer people are registered for permanent residence in the local part of Holešovice. The population boom was driven by industrialization and the arrival of many industrial operations. Everything culminated in the construction of the metro line in the 70s, only for industry to begin leaving the area after the Velvet Revolution.
Skyscrapers, residences, parks and renovated blocks of older apartment buildings
The 2002 floods also left their mark on Holešovice, even though the regulation of the Vltava river long ago ceased to make the area a flood-prone location. The operation of the local harbor for river shipping was definitively ended, signaling the end of the industrial era in Holešovice.
However, it didn't become a ghost town from the already integral part of Prague. Free spaces attracted the activities of builders and developers. The harbor's past greatly inspired builders. An office Lighthouse Waterfront Towers grew up on the site of the old port. A three-tower skyscraper, which has 19 floors stacked inside, has been among the ten highest buildings of this kind for a long time now.
Similarly, the multifunctional center Port7, which also contains a number of shops, was inspired by the harbour's past. In its close vicinity, a former dairy was rebuilt into a residential object. At the same time, it is valid that the entire city part was not leveled with the ground to make way for modern architecture and we can also find romantic older buildings here. Its usefulness is also taken care of by the management of Prague 7. Today, Holešovice also offers a number of residential locations.
"Inner blocks are for many residents the closest green spaces away from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding city. We are therefore very pleased that we were able to enhance another of these spaces so that it could serve not only the people from the surrounding houses. Along with the U Vody Park, which we opened last summer, this is another pleasant green retreat for meetings and leisure time of the residents of Lower Holešovice, who do not have large urban parks at hand,"
The Mayor of Prague 7 district Jan Čižinský commented on current projects, which aim to make leisure activities more pleasant for locals.
The dock was replaced by a wooden airship
Not only for locals, but also elsewhere in Holešovice, there are two modern cultural centers. Everyone can visit the popular industrial café Vnitroblock complemented by a gallery of modern art, which intersects with a dance studio and an artlab in its production.
With its architectural design, the local DOX attracts attention. The Center also refers to the past of the location with its name, but itself hides a remarkable past. The cultural space, which does not want to limit itself only to exhibitions like other "kunsthalle", initially did not bounce off the hand stretched to subsidy programs, but originated from its own private initiative of cultural patrons.
They created a successful monument. At least through a view of the typical wooden airship, which is an integral part of DOX. Holešovice therefore definitely have something to offer, even though they have not been a fishing village or an industrial center for many years.
Sources: author's text, DOX, Lighthousetowers.cz, Kudyznudy.cz, TZ MČ Praha 7
