Known Unknown – South Bohemian Architecture of the 20th Century

A visually rich documentary exhibition prepared by experts from the National Heritage Institute, the territorial specialist office in České Budějovice, is on display at Nové Hrady State Castle from 1 April to 31 October 2026. Nineteen exhibition panels present modern buildings of South Bohemia divided into thirteen thematic groups – ranging from civic amenities and residential buildings in city centres to industrial and agricultural structures on the outskirts of settlements. The texts are complemented by contemporary and historical photographs of the buildings, archival plans and sketches. The exhibition traces the development of architecture from the beginning of the 20th century, when revolutionary technological innovations and new intellectual movements emerged – new buildings were to be above all functional and purposeful, with materials such as steel, glass and reinforced concrete increasingly used. First Republic architecture is considered exceptionally high quality from a developmental perspective, and its significance is presented not only in the context of South Bohemia but also within the broader national and international architectural production. Separate sections are devoted to prominent South Bohemian architects: Karel Chochola is one of the most distinctive figures of the South Bohemian interwar scene (designer of the Českobudějovice department store Brouk a Babka, now a cultural monument); František Průša, a member of Sokol, is the author of numerous Sokol halls in various regions of Czechoslovakia; Antonín Mečíř worked mainly in Jindřichův Hradec as a city architect and was known as a friend and supporter of Ema Destinnová. The authors' aim is to draw attention to the values of modern architecture, which is not perceived as naturally as historical buildings and is more threatened by demolition and neglect.