Buildings with Stories

The winter of 1924 forced the founders of Radiojournal to leave the tent in Kbelý for a rental in Vinohrady. Eight years later, what is by then Czechoslovak Radio moves into the modern functionalist palace designed by architect Bohumil Sláma and built between 1927–1932.

From 1998–2000, a brand new studio building sprang up right next to the original radio building on Vinohradská Street. The adjoining new studio house was built with unique steel springs to mitigate the vibrations from the underground railway. 

Flooding in the summer of 2002 damaged the Karlin radio building badly, but it was also a blessing in disguise. The water swept away undesirable design features added to the building, which meant that architects were able to restore the interior to its original form.

The Brno Radio building was originally a branch of the Union Bank, built in 1923–1925 and designed by Ernst Wiesner, one of the most important local architects.

After several waves of renovations from 2017–2021, the headquarters of the most listened-to regional station of Czech Radio exemplarily combines modern technology with the legacy of functionalism. The reconstruction project was the work of architect Miloš Klement.

The interior of Czech Radio Hradec Králové represents the design style of the late 20th century, featuring sharp lines, bulky decorative elements and distinctive pastel color shades.

The building dates back to 2006 and differs from the neighbouring houses only by the colour of its facade, the station name banner and the differently divided windows. Otherwise, it fits in perfectly with the surrounding buildings.

A crowd of visitors fills the broadcast studio for good reason. It's Wednesday, 2 November 2016, and Czech Radio's General Director René Zavoral is inaugurating a new chapter of independent broadcasting for the Liberec region at 11:00 a.m. sharp.

For 73 years, Czech Radio Olomouc was based in a historic rental opposite the town hall. On 18 May 2022, it began broadcasting "from its own place" – after a demanding reconstruction, the regional station’s new permanent home is just a short distance away on Pavelčákova Street.

The new building of Czech Radio Olomouc won the prize in the Building of the Year 2022 competition for the Olomouc Region – the jury chose it as best in the Reconstruction and Renovation category. Architects from Atelier 38 in Opava created the award-winning structure.

Czech Radio Ostrava broadcasts from a three-building complex in Dr. Šmerala Street. The most eye-catching is the splendid neoclassical corner house. Built in 1921, the building was designed by the Viennese architect Ernst Körner.

In 2009, the entrance staircase underwent a careful renovation, during which most components were custom made. The restorers even preserved the creaking of individual stair treads that several generations of radio operators fondly remember. 

The building of Czech Radio’s regional station Pardubice is far from ordinary. The author of the renovation, architect Josef Panna, interestingly divided the space into three floors and, viewed from a distance, the staircases resemble a DNA helix.

Czech Radio Pilsen is a unique example of 1940s architecture and one of the most important late functionalist buildings in Pilsen. A team of architects led by Karel Tausenau divided the project into three parts, built in stages between 1947 and 1956.

Wolfrum's villa was designed by prominent Viennese architects Hans Miksch and Julian Niedzielski. The interior space is characterised by decorative features, vaulted ceilings and ornate arches with reliefs above the doors.

The villa was built in 1926–1927 by the younger of the Baťa brothers, Jan Antonín. The elder Tomáš would not have agreed with the construction, so it was allegedly done in a hurry during his trip to America.