Created by the non-profit association Mapamátky, the book takes readers beyond Prague’s Gothic spires and Baroque squares to explore the city’s vibrant modern identity — from functionalist masterpieces and overlooked brutalist icons to bold contemporary designs that continue to shape its evolving skyline.
While millions of visitors flock to Prague each year for its medieval core and Baroque skyline, only few venture beyond the castle walls to discover the architecture that defines the city today. A new English-language guidebook aims to change that. Prague Uncovered: A Local’s Guide to Modern and Contemporary Architecture, published by local non-profit association Mapamátky, invites readers to explore a different side of the Czech capital. The book will take them through 70 modern and contemporary buildings across 17 neighbourhoods, from functionalist villas and brutalist icons to recent projects.
“Tourism in Prague often stops at the Castle and the Old Town. But there’s another city out there — full of stories, experiments, and ideas — where even the smallest architectural details influence us every day,” says Marie Zákostelecká, Concept Director at Mapamátky. “Prague Uncovered is our way of inviting people to see it through local eyes.” The 172-page publication represents the first English-language book guide dedicated exclusively to Prague’s modern and contemporary architectural heritage. Written and curated by local experts active in architectural education and heritage interpretation, the guide bridges the gap between residents, expats, and curious visitors. It invites readers to understand the real Prague with its creativity, contradictions, and ongoing architectural evolution.
A City Beyond the Clichés
The book explores six architectural movements that have shaped Prague over the past century: Cubism, Rondocubism, Functionalism, International Style, Brutalism, Postmodernism, and also discusses contemporary design. Featured places include Karel Prager’s New Building of the National Museum in central New Town, DOX Centre for Contemporary Art in postindustrial Holešovice, or Josef Gočár’s modernist Church of St Wenceslas in Vršovice. In addition, readers will find examples of the city’s contemporary creative revival, including Forum Karlín and Štvanice Footbridge in redeveloped Karlín.
“We wanted to show the best of Prague’s architecture from the last 150 years — not as isolated objects, but as part of a city that keeps evolving,” explains Štěpán Beneš, Content Director and Architect. “Each building tells something about the time, the people, and the vision that shaped it.” Beyond individual landmarks, the guide also examines Prague’s evolving relationship with the Vltava River through projects like Podolí Waterworks, river embankments, and new bridges.
More Than a Guidebook
Designed to function as a practical guidebook, coffee-table book, and learning resource, Prague Uncovered combines architectural insight with accessible storytelling and photography. Buildings are organised by neighbourhood, with contextual information on the social, historical, and urban forces that shaped them. The publication is financially supported by the City of Prague and created by Mapamátky, a Prague-based non-profit organisation that has been promoting modern and contemporary architecture through maps, guided tours, exhibitions, and publications since 2020.
Publication Details
Title: Prague Uncovered: Local’s Guide to Modern and Contemporary Architecture
Publisher: Mapamátky z. s. (with the financial support of the City of Prague)
Language: English
Pages: 172
Format: A5 148×210 mm
ISBN: 978-80-11-07465-4
Availability
Pre-order: from November 5, 2025 at https://shop.mapamatky.cz
Release Date: November 20, 2025
Book Launch Event: December 5, 2025, 8:00 PM, Kavárna Na Boršově, Prague 1
About Mapamátky
Mapamátky is a Prague-based non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting modern and contemporary architecture through maps, guided tours and publications. Since 2020, the organisation has been uncovering the city’s lesser-known architectural heritage, making expert knowledge accessible to the public in an engaging, visual way. Mapamátky collaborates with architects, historians, and cultural institutions to build broader understanding of architecture as part of everyday life.
Media Contact:
Mapamátky z. s. / Ing. Marie Zákostelecká, Chair of the Association
info@mapamatky.cz / mapamatky.cz/en / @mapamatky