In the margins of Franta´s museum synagogue architecture
Prague Heritage Reservation, UNESCO, Czech Republic
Awards: Special prize – Gloria musealis Prize, in the category museum achievement 2020
Reconstruction and structural modifications of the Spanish Synagogue (1868, Ignác Ullman) with the adjacent functionalist building (1936, Karel Pecánek) with the design of a new exhibition in a very prominent historical part of the Old Town of Prague in a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After the reconstruction of the Spanish Synagogue, the main nave serves 3 functions: EXHIBITIONS – A new permanent exhibition „Jews in the Czech Lands”; in the design it was necessary to ensure a museum-standard microclimate. CULTURE – holding concerts for 250 seated listeners RELIGION – for occasional worship.
The main material of all elements of the new permanent exhibition „Jews in the Czech Lands“ is glass in various forms, which contributes to the visual effect of the entire exhibition. The exhibits are chiefly housed in oval showcases (2.5 × 2.5 × 0.8 m) with internal climate control. All new elements are transparent and provide information – printing on glass and integrated audiovisual displays. A new visitor circuit in the women’s gallery with mostly counter-top all-glass display cases leads visitors into the gallery in the so-called “winter prayer room”.