The building of the Karlín Barracks was initiated by dissatisfied soldiers who were forced to spend the night in Prague. They were often accommodated in former monastery complexes or vacant houses in the Old Town and New Town. And so, a plan was conceived to construct barracks with a capacity of 2,000 men. The building served its purpose partially until 2004 when, after the abolition of compulsory military service, it became vacant. Over time, the building lost all functions and became entangled in an endless conflict of interests among various ministries that owned the building over the years. A spark of hope came in 2017 when the Prague Center association took over the central area and the economic building, which forms the fourth side of the inner courtyard. The complex gained cultural and leisure activities such as a summer cinema, fire pit, playground for children, and sauna. The space was also revitalized by art installations by renowned Czech sculptors František Skála Jr. and Čestmír Suška.

The service of the Barracks is currently interrupted. On 4th June 2024, following a controversial opinion of the Prague 8 Building Authority, the immediate closure of the buildings was ordered and a ban on the operation of the cultural and social centre was issued. Mapamátky, as well as others, hope that the situation can be resolved through the transfer of the Barracks to the ownership of the City of Prague. Hopefully, in a few months the doors of this great cultural stand will open again.

The small church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross stood a few kilometers beyond the newly constructed Baroque walls of Prague at the time of its creation. It was surrounded only by a plague cemetery and a few homesteads. In the second half of the 18th century, it was damaged due to an invasion by Prussian troops. Since then, the church fell into disrepair, and as burials ceased in the adjacent cemetery, the chapel was also destroyed. Gradually, a town began to grow around it, and in the 1960s and 1970s, extensive efforts were made to transform the former sacred building into a facility serving the residents, which succeeded in 1984. Since then, Atrium in Žižkov has become a meeting place, hosting concerts and exhibitions. The church features a Baroque gable with volutes and a monumental sandstone portal. A modern extension has been added to the church, where a gallery and café are now located. In the local atrium, you will also find an artistic fountain. At the entrance, you will be greeted by a sculpture of a sitting girl and an expressive quote by Jan Werich.

The ensemble of modernist buildings in the style of purism consists of a total of 18 uniformly designed buildings that differ only in minor details and their relationship to the inner courtyard. The entire project is led by architect František Albert Libra, who had previously designed the rondocubist colony Svoboda in the nearby Vinohrady slope. The block has two parts enclosing a spacious inner courtyard, which features numerous trees and greenery, as well as playgrounds for children, a basketball court, and relaxation areas. The stylistic purity of the buildings, which is characteristic of purism, is particularly evident in the design of the entrance portals, staircases, and long rows of balconies, which face the southern side despite the block layout of the surroundings. This is an urbanistic rarity, and the entire massive structure is a testament to progressive solutions and an unconventional approach to block construction at that time.

In 1902, Vršovice obtained the status of a city, and in the same year, the Waldes Koh-i-noor factory for the production of famous pencils and other stationery was opened. Craft production gave way to industry, and with gradual industrialization, the appearance and character of the area changed. In 1903, a mill with a bakery was established in what was then Brožíkova Street, now Petrohradská Street. However, in 1937, instead of sourdough, cocoa beans were brought into the corner building, and the mill was replaced by a chocolate factory. In the 1950s, the chocolate factory and a candy store gave way to an assembly workshop. At the beginning of the 21st century, the building lost its purpose entirely. In the future, a residential new building is planned for the corner, but until then, Petrohradská Kolektiv breathes life into the abandoned building. This initiative revived the worn-out Neo-Renaissance facade with black and white silhouettes, but more importantly, it found temporary use for the interior spaces. It fills the individual rooms and inner courtyard with culture and creative people.