The landscape of Prague — housing estates as part of the Prague landscape
The European landscape and the urban landscape as its part are very complex structures that have undergone extensive historical and political changes. The European landscape is characterized by its overall diversity in terms of cultural, geographical, ecological, and urban elements. These elements further enrich the continent’s rich history and the dynamics of the present time. Cities are one of the highest expressions of human spiritual and physical culture, making them a very complex task when attempting to build or reconstruct them.
The territory of Prague was inhabited long before the city took its present form, and the cores of this settlement complexly shifted over time. For example, the Celtic center was the now entirely forested Závist, the Slavic Šárka, or the nearby Levý Hradec, later the Prague Castle and Vyšehrad. Medieval Prague consisted of four towns: Old Town, Lesser Town, New Town, and Hradčany. This distribution, in one form or another, was preserved until 1784 when unification occurred, followed by several expansions. Until recently, areas such as the western tip of Smíchov, Holešovice, and much of Dejvice were considered rural. Over time, there is a process of absorbing peripheries and transforming originally agricultural landscapes into urban areas. The historical image of Prague extends beyond its architectural heritage . The cultural and political context of Prague has also played a key role in shaping its landscape. The success of cultural events and architectural endeavors in Prague has been influenced by the city’s unique cultural expectations and political circumstances. Prague’s architectural culture, and its effort to preserve it, continues to contribute to the city’s unique cultural identity.
Under the influence of rapid urbanization, a variety of new theories about the city emerged at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. These theories were relied upon by society, architects, urban planners, and landscapers throughout the rest of the 20th century. Starting with the theory of urbanization and urban theories of linear cities, through industrial and garden cities, then the concept of socio-economic regional planning, and finally, the most famous modernist theory of functional zoning of the city.
The hectic period, full of post-war enthusiasm and at the same time complex political events, significantly contributed to the form and overall conception of the architecture of residential neighborhoods. Europe suffered significant damage during the Second World War. Many cities were destroyed, and the continent’s inhabitants suffered. Millions of people perished, and millions were displaced from their homes, with many forcibly resettled. According to UN data, 8.8 million housing units were destroyed in 18 European countries during the war, and at least another 5.6 million became uninhabitable. This issue affected one of the nine housing units that existed in 1939. By 1947, the Cold War had already begun, and the USA and the USSR clashed globally in their efforts to gain the favor of liberated nations. Stalin rejected the American offer of the Marshall Plan for post-war reconstruction. Instead, he persuaded countries later collectively referred to as the Eastern Bloc to create an equivalent of the Marshall Plan, an alternative alliance called the Cominform strengthening Stalin’s power.
The origins of residential neighborhood urbanism also trace back to the interwar modern era, whether it involves the separation of residential, work, and leisure functions or the open development in greenery, providing all apartments with sufficient air, light, and sun. This urban structure is ideal for constructing large and heavy concrete panels, where heavy machinery, trucks, and crane tracks have enough space, and houses can essentially be the same, just rotated correctly for views and sunlight.
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