Every year Prague's historic city center gets a facelift in the form of new buildings, restoration of historical facades and revitalization of interior spaces. With this continual shifting of urban structure and growing commercialization comes controversy and strong opinions from across the spectrum of city officials, retailers, investors and tourists.

City residents have been getting a closer look at the process every year since 1997, when Prague 1 Town Hall first organized an exhibit called The Future and Present of Prague 1. With a total attendance of 65,000 since the exhibit's inception, including 8,000 last year, it's clear that Prague residents care deeply about the changes in the city center.

One architectural firm that has been deeply involved in changing Prague 1 is Omicron-K, which designed Burzovní Palác (Rybná 14 in Old Town) and reconstructed Lidtova Palác (on Wenceslas Square). Looking back at projects in Prague since the 1989 revolution, Chief Architect Martin Kotík says, "Construction of the city can be divided into three waves. The first wave was hotels in the early '90s, the second wave consisted of commercial objects in the late '90s, and the third and present wave is apartment buildings."

They are all in this exhibition.

Parking and playgrounds

Particularly noteworthy displays this year include the results of the urban/architectural competition for the redevelopment of Wenceslas Square, historically a place where Czechs gathered to mark history-making events. The area is now rife with pickpockets, prostitutes, brothels and tourist shops. The exhibit will feature the three winning proposals for cleaning up and revitalizing the square.

Highlights of the past year on display include parking improvements at Fürstenberská and Lobkovická gardens, Kampa Park and Vojanovy sady. "On another note, there were many children's playgrounds implemented this year: Masná, Vrchlického sady and Žofín," says Jan Brabec, spokesman for Prague 1.

In marked contrast to the notoriously dark and forbidding environs of Hlavní nádraží, the main train station, Vrchlického sady has proved to be a popular destination for families. In an effort to bring a safer and more welcoming side to this gateway to the city, the play area contains rides and toys of primary colors in durable plastic for Prague's smallest residents.

Wenceslas Square was not the only area to feature new sculptures this year. In Malá Strana, directly across from the Malostranská metro station, a monument now honors the Second Resistance Movement. A Czech flag molded from metal that appears to be fluttering but holding fast in a strong wind has attracted the attention of passers-by. Also noteworthy is the new Mandarin Oriental Hotel (Karmelitská 6), and the ongoing reconstruction of the "Golden Angel House" (Celetná 29, near náměstí Republiky).

As for interiors, the majority of new and refurbished spaces are in various retail shops, cafés and restaurants in and around the center. On Old Town's high-end shopping strip, the slick futuristic design of Boutique Podium Milan (Pařížská 23) virtually hypnotizes shoppers with its large mirrors and the profusion of metallic silver circles covering the walls. Also impressive is the new Brasserie M Restaurace (Vladislavova 17), a perfect fusion of modern Czech design and the traditional French brasseries of the early 20th century, with a wall-sized mural depicting five Czech painters, a composer and a Cubist architect who spent a number of their formative years in France.

Around the corner on Vodičkova sits the shell for the future site of Myšák Gallery, a project 11 years in the making. "Over this period of time, the functions, various architectural aspects and investors have changed, but the plan will now include elements of architecture from the first half of the 20th century," Kotík says.

More than preservation

In keeping with tradition, visitors will be able to talk with Prague 1 officials as well as local architects and planners, some of whom will give lectures. Past talks have covered the future design of Wenceslas Square, the Petrská district, the Palladium project and náměstí Republiky, with the most-discussed issues concerning the intrusion of new, modern buildings into the historical setting of the center.

"This year's exhibit will be enriched by gatherings with architects who have played a role in the creation of important projects within the past decade or so," Brabec says.

The first discussion, Oct. 16 with Prague 1 Deputy Mayor Petr Burgr, will center on concerns regarding the future of the center. The following day the subject will be public spaces, with input from another deputy mayor, Čestmír Nekovařík. The forum will conclude with an open exchange of ideas regarding the role of public transport in the center and outlying areas, with Deputy Mayor Pavel Vlach and the heads of the Prague 1 transportation and environmental departments.

The overriding aim of the exhibit, according to officials and planners, is to portray the center as more than a static urban preservation area. It's a major artery in the capital, and as such contains a variety of needs and opportunities for future development.