What we do – summits and forums

In the autumn of 2018 the Association for Architecture and Development published its key document “10 Visions and Concrete Steps for the Construction Development of Prague and the Czech Republic”. Since then it has organized traditionally semi-annually the Summits of Architecture and Development. They are held in March and September at the prestigious Municipal House in Prague and generate lots of interest among the media, professionals and the general public thanks to the important Czech and foreign guests who speak there.

Our work has allowed us to reach out to architects of worldwide importance. We have welcomed such icons as Elizabeth Diller (US), Sou Fujimoto (JP), Ian Ritchie (UK), Jean-Pierre Carniaux (FR) and Peter Gero (DE). Leading Czech architects Eva Jiřičná, Josef Pleskot, Zdeněk Fránek and many others have made multiple appearances at the summit. Our ambition is to inspire our Czech audience with interesting ideas from abroad and connect the top architects from around the world with representatives of the Czech professional public and politicians.

The main aim of the summit is to assess the progress of development in Prague and the Czech Republic. A semi-annually review “What has been done, what not, and what needs to be done?” is always introduced at the summit, including a biannual short film summarizing current events in building development. These summits are broadcast online to the website of the association and a report with interviews is subsequently produced, the result of which is a lot of media interest.

Photogallery from events

Who we are and what we're about

The Association for Architecture and Development (SAR) is an independent initiative of experts from the fields of architecture, the construction industry, economics and law. It is a working think-tank of experts who are not indifferent to the long-term paralysis of residential development in our country and the lack of interest in high-quality modern architecture. Members of the association share the opinion that our country cannot live solely off its past, but must also start developing or else face certain decline. For this reason they want to actively comment on issues, instigate discussion and together endeavour to improve things for the better.

The aim and purpose of the association is to support positive building development and high-quality modern architecture in the Czech Republic. The association has two tasks – popularising the field and educating the public, and bringing about pro-development legislation and practice by public authorities. The association wants to be a positive voice for building development while also calling potential problems by their true name and working with other experts from the field to seek out proper solutions together.

What we have accomplished

In three years of activity, the association is gradually managing to change things for the better. New construction is ceasing to be viewed in social and political life as a sort of grey zone that must be stopped. Increasingly, it is starting to be understood as a key component of the country's economy and something that society needs in order to develop. Politicians and political authorities at both the national and local level are steadily starting to take legislative as well as practical steps to accelerate and simplify the paralysed permit process for new construction.

A key aspect of the association's activities is its semi-annual Summits of Architecture and Development. These traditionally take place at Prague's Municipal House and are attended by leading politicians and experts. The summits always address current topics and assess what worked out well and what did not, as well as what needs to be done in the coming period, at both the level of the country and of Prague. These events also popularise high-quality modern architecture and feature top Czech and international faces. Regular attendees of the summits include the most respected Czech architects, for example Eva Jiřičná, Josef Pleskot, Zdeněk Fránek, Pavel Hnilička and more. In the past these summits have also been attended by such leading figures of world architecture as Sou Fujimoto, Elizabeth Diller, Ian Ritchie and others.