NEW FRAGRANCE OUT NOW
PRAGUE
A city full of architectural diversity, admired by visitors from all over the world. And yet one era remains unfairly overlooked — the 1970s and 80s. But Prague knows how to be brutally beautiful. Discover the buildings worth visiting through the lens of the pop-up exhibition ART BEHIND THE GLASS.
ARTISÈME, Tereza Štětinová
"WAVE"
white marble
displayed in the window of Artisème, Rybná 26, Prague 1
(private collection)
Pigmentarium and Artisème present Tereza Štětinová as part of ART BEHIND THE GLASS — an artistic project accompanying the launch of the new fragrance, BRUTAL.
Tereza Štětinová — A sculptor whose unique approach to materials and form brings a fresh perspective to Czech sculpture, blending traditional techniques with a contemporary sensibility. A graduate of photography at Prague’s FAMU, Tereza has collaborated with Pigmentarium over the years, and her work continues to inspire us. Her unmistakable aesthetic resonates most deeply with the fragrance Genesis. An increasingly sought-after and respected artist, she made her name through minimalist stone sculptures, yet her material collages, use of polychromy, and stylized figurative work also draw wide acclaim. Among her most recent and significant public works are the commemorative plaques of Jan Palach and Josef Toufar in Prague 2.
Byssine, Ema Kissová
"GAIA"
green serpentine
displayed in the window of Byssine, Pernerova 136/45, Prague 8
(available for purchase)
Pigmentarium and Byssine present Ema Kissová as part of ART BEHIND THE GLASS — an artistic project accompanying the launch of the new fragrance, BRUTAL.
Ema Kissová — A graduate of the School of Applied Arts in Bratislava and currently a student in the Figurative Sculpture Studio led by Vojtěch Míča at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. Her delicate approach to stone — which she perceives as a living, ever-changing organism — gives rise to gentle, emotionally soft forms that stand in striking contrast to the hard, cold, and unyielding nature of the material. Her works transform stone in such a way that one might instinctively expect softness at first touch.
MYSKINO, Pavlína Kvita
"AIMING"
fibreglass concrete
displayed in the window of Myskino, Dušní 10, Prague 1
(available for purchase)
Pigmentarium and Myskino present Pavlína Kvita as part of ART BEHIND THE GLASS — an artistic project accompanying the launch of the new fragrance, BRUTAL.
Pavlína Kvita — A graduate of the Sculpture Studio led by Lukáš Rittstein at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, Pavlína Kvita works primarily within the framework of freestanding sculpture. The plinth, often overlooked, plays an integral role in her creations and has become a signature element of her visual language. The two works selected for ART BEHIND THE GLASS — "White Amphora" and "Aiming" — are both accompanied by sculptural stands, further emphasizing her approach. Kvita’s themes frequently revolve around animal forms and fragmented torsos, expressed through flowing, refined lines. Her chosen materials — concrete and artificial stone — have become emblematic of her work. Cast in liquid form into moulds based on her original models, they define the tactile and visual essence of her sculptures. Pavlína Kvita currently works out of the PRÁM studio in Prague.
MYSKINO, Tereza Štětinová
"HEAD"
serpentine
displayed in the window of Myskino, Nerudova 27, Prague 1
(private collection)
Pigmentarium and Myskino present Tereza Štětinová as part of ART BEHIND THE GLASS — an artistic project accompanying the launch of the new fragrance, BRUTAL.
Tereza Štětinová — A sculptor whose unique approach to materials and form brings a fresh perspective to Czech sculpture, blending traditional techniques with a contemporary sensibility. A graduate of photography at Prague’s FAMU, Tereza has collaborated with Pigmentarium over the years, and her work continues to inspire us. Her unmistakable aesthetic resonates most deeply with the fragrance Genesis. An increasingly sought-after and respected artist, she made her name through minimalist stone sculptures, yet her material collages, use of polychromy, and stylized figurative work also draw wide acclaim. Among her most recent and significant public works are the commemorative plaques of Jan Palach and Josef Toufar in Prague 2.
MYSKINO, Ema Kissová
"DIALÓG"
two communicating solitaires made of andesite (black sculpture) and rhyolite (pinksculpture)
displayed in the window of Myskino, Vinohradská 24, Prague 2
(available for purchase)
Pigmentarium and Myskino present Ema Kissová as part of ART BEHIND THE GLASS — an artistic project accompanying the launch of the new fragrance, BRUTAL.
Ema Kissová — A graduate of the School of Applied Arts in Bratislava and currently a student in the Figurative Sculpture Studio led by Vojtěch Míča at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. Her delicate approach to stone — which she perceives as a living, ever-changing organism — gives rise to gentle, emotionally soft forms that stand in striking contrast to the hard, cold, and unyielding nature of the material. Her works transform stone in such a way that one might instinctively expect softness at first touch.
Central Dispatch of the Prague Public Transit Company
1978, Na Bojišti 1425/5, Prague 2
The brain of Prague’s transport system, hidden within a brutalist structure designed by Vratislav Růžička. A monumental mass of black metal panels rises in stepped tiers above Na Bojišti Street. Its austere geometry sharply contrasts with the surrounding historic architecture. A white crown housing technical infrastructure is visible only from distant viewpoints. The building conceals four underground and ten above-ground floors, making it a little-known yet striking feature of Prague’s skyline.
Federal Assembly Building
1974, Wilsonova 52/2, Prague 1
A house above a house—or a house as a bridge. The unique steel structure of the former Federal Assembly, now the New Building of the National Museum, quite literally spans the historic Prague Stock Exchange. The team led by architect Karel Prager demonstrated that even brutalism can hold a sensitive dialogue with history. The bold design is lightened by a disc-like curtain wall of sheet glass, while a striking steel pylon rises toward Wenceslas Square. In 1969, Prager secretly dedicated this pylon to Jan Palach as a hidden memorial.
Hotel Fairmont (Intercontinental)
1974, Pařížská 43/30, Prague 1
In the liberated spirit of the 1960s, Pan Am began flying to Prague—bringing with it the Intercontinental hotel brand. The design was entrusted to Czech brutalist master Karel Filsak. Although direct flights to New York were cancelled after the 1968 invasion, construction moved forward. The result: a striking island of Western architecture and culture in the heart of Prague. Raw concrete with bold patterning, gleaming ceramic cladding, and works of art throughout the interiors gave the hotel its singular character. Following a careful renovation, the hotel reopens in April under the luxurious Fairmont name.
Congress Centre Prague
1981, 5. května 1640/65, Prague 4
A mysterious castle above the Nusle Valley. Originally known as the Palace of Culture, Prague’s Congress Centre takes full advantage of its commanding position and sweeping city views. Designed by architects from the Military Project Institute, it opens toward the panorama with a monumental atrium—most striking after dark. Inside lies the largest multifunctional hall in the Czech Republic, with a capacity of over 2,800 visitors, along with remarkable original interiors from the 1980s. Its rhythmic concrete façade and sheer mass firmly place it within the brutalist tradition.
Koospol (The CUBE)
1977, Evropská 423/178, Prague 6
Arguably the boldest example of true brutalism in Prague stands in Veleslavín. Designed by architects Fencl, Franc, and Nováček, the former Koospol foreign trade building looks as though it landed from another galaxy. A dramatic cube of offices hovers above a pedestal housing the social areas, connected to Evropská Avenue by a concrete footbridge. The project pushed the limits of reinforced concrete, and proved too complex for local construction at the time—so it was built by an Austrian company, a rare exception during the 1970s. A striking tulip-shaped brutalist fountain completes the scene.
The New Stage of the National Theatre
1983, Národní 1393/4, Prague 1
Karel Prager’s New Stage has sparked debate since the day it was completed—among the public and architectural historians alike. Some view its bold forms and austere façade as pure brutalism, others see playful postmodernism. Glass blocks by world-renowned artists Stanislav Libenský and Jaroslava Brychtová, an interior lined with green marble and an iconic chandelier, and an auditorium still fitted with its original leather seats. Add the scent of Brutal, and you're instantly transported to the bold ambiance of the 1980s. But don’t wait too long—renovation begins this summer, and the building will close for two years.
The New Towers of the Emmaus Monastery
1968, Vyšehradská 49/320, Prague 2
Concrete elegance—these slender shell towers by architect František Maria Černý breathed new life into the Emmaus Monastery. The original Gothic towers were destroyed during the bombing of Prague in 1945; the new ones uniquely merge Gothic heritage with brutalist expression. The extension has preserved its raw béton brut surface to this day, and with its delicate silhouette, it remains one of the most distinctive architectural symbols—not only of the Vltava riverbank below Vyšehrad, but of Prague itself.
Kotva Department Store
1975, Náměstí Republiky 656/8, Prague 1
Once the largest department store in Czechoslovakia, Kotva stands as a remarkable example of true brutalist architecture and a bold vision by architects Věra and Vladimír Machonin. The inspiration for the design came from their study trip through Western Europe—made possible after winning a major architectural competition for the design of a university in Dublin in 1966. Kotva continues to captivate with its innovative honeycomb-like hexagonal structure, which conceals the building’s monumental scale while harmonizing with the complexity of its surroundings.
