B Excursion 3: Karlín

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Martin Ouředníček & Lucie Pospíšilová

Wednesday, April 12 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Karlín is one of the most interesting neighborhoods of inner city Prague having changed its functions several times during the last 200 years. Before the industrialization wave, it was used for military purposes (as a training ground and accommodation for war invalids). Since the mid-19th century, industrialization brought factories as well as new housing for workers and created the structure of the neighborhood which is recognizable in the built environment up to these days. After World War II, the quarter experienced deterioration under socialism caused by the underinvestment to the existing housing stock and gradual decline of population social status. Extensive Prague floods in 2002 which touched it with high intensity meant a breakthrough moment in its history and accelerated starting transformation in many parts of the neighborhood. Since then, we have witnessed a variety of processes there: revitalization, gentrification and new commercial development connected with the improvements of the physical environment, displacement of low status residents and emergence of services for new residents and users. However, as a consequence of the selective character of revitalization processes some parts of the neighborhood still “wait” to be affected by them.

The aim of the excursion is to show a mosaic of social worlds of this transforming working-class neighborhood from the 19th century. We point to the pertaining polarization and differentiation on the micro-level in case of the population structure as well as functions of different localities. This leads to the creation of different temporal rhythms in various parts of Karlín.

Schedule:

• Karlínské square 1:30 – meeting point
• New commercial development in River City project – Rohanský ostrov – 1:30 – 1:50
• Vltava river and Přístav 186 00 2:15 – 2:45
• Invalidovna – the house for war invalids from 18th century 3:00
• Small housing estate from 1960s 3:30
• View from Olympic hotel 4:00 – 4:30