Prague Behind The Scenes: Open House Prague 2015

Open House is a special event, festival of architecture and design. Basically open doors to many of Prague´s splendid buildings which are otherwise not accessible to the public (or most of them).

The first "Doors Open Day" took place in France in 1984. Since than the concept has spread to other places in Europe, North America and Australia. This year also Prague joined the big Open House Worldwide family.

And of course, I was there. Amazed.

Places I visited:

- St. Agnes Convent (Convent and garden)
- Ministry of Industry and Trade (cupola and other interiors)
- Lucerna Palace (Marble Hall and Koníček Private club of Havel´s family)
- Langhans house (Langhans foundation offices + private condo)
- Metro Palace (Rooftop with a stunning view)

Haštal quarter and beautiful morning. On my way to St. Agnes Convent. Not open doors but open windows at least:) Good beginning.

St. Agnes Convent - I was almost alone there..early morning on Saturday:)

My second stop, just around the corner from St. Agnes Convent - Ministry of Industry and Trade. Check the copula above. That´s where we went to.

Getting closer

A bit prison view but beautiful - 360°. Ministry of industry and Trade

Ministry front balcony

Marble hall in Lucerna palace

Ceiling detail - Marble hall Lucerna Palace

Private Club Koníček - for private parties and occasions of Havel´s family and friends.

View out of the Langhans house - front: Franciscan garden, back: Church of Our Lady of Snows.

Langhans foundation offices

Langhans foundation. They take care of glass negatives with portraits of members of an erstwhile élite from Langhans atelier , the largest photography business in Bohemia founded in 19. century. In 1948, Ateliér Langhans was nationalized and its whole archive was taken away to be destroyed. Communist way... In 90s during the remodelling of the building, more than 9,000 glass negatives from the Gallery of Eminent People were discovered in two cupboards.