The construction of the metro brought about necessary changes to the lower end of Wenceslas Square. The administrative building project for the ČKD company was assigned to the Šrámek couple; it was on their drafting tables that Prague’s first postmodern building emerged, significantly altering the face of the “Golden Cross” junction. The building’s structure was connected to the Můstek metro station: the first floor housed a grill bar and café, with prominent bay windows facing Wenceslas Square. The next three floors were designated for the ČKD offices. Finally, the roof of the building next to large, illuminated clock became the home of the Modrá Terasa (Blue Terrace) restaurant. In 2003, the building underwent a renovation overseen by Alena Šrámková, which transformed the entrance hall and the first floor into a large commercial space. The rooftop terrace is no longer accessible to the public. Alena Šrámková — Jan Šrámek ČKD Building in Prague at Můstek, 1974—1983 Na Příkopě 1, Praha 1 – Staré Město The building was designed as a universal administrative structure and was renamed the ČKD Building after its tenant before being completed. Jan Šrámek started working on the design without a competition, having received the direct commission in 1972. Just two years later, he invited his wife to join the project, and she transferred to the Prague City Design Institute, Atelier 4 (Delta), partly because of this. Because Jan Šrámek was already battling a serious illness at the time, the completion of the project and construction largely fell on her shoulders. The building immediately drew attention to Alena Šrámková upon its completion. For proponents of postmodernism, which was gaining recognition in Czechoslovakia by the late 1970s (and was almost officially accepted in the 1980s), this was a major challenge. The building closely aligned with the ideas of new functionalism, a kind of “domestic” version of postmodernism rooted in local tradition. The building had both fanatical admirers and staunch critics, going well beyond the generational divide. However, despite expectations of further work on actual buildings, this did not materialise. While the ČKD Building was still under construction, Šrámková began collaborating with Ladislav Lábus on the Lužiny shopping and community centre for Jihozápadní Město (Southwest City Suburb), a project built as part of the comprehensive housing development with basic facilities for each residential complex. Alena Šrámková (1929—2022) She graduated in architecture and civil engineering at the Slovak Technical University in Bratislava (1952), and the School of Architecture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague (1958). She worked at Chemoprojekt Bratislava (1952–1954), Stavoprojekt Ústí nad Labem (1954—1955), Potravinoprojekt (1958—1959), the State Trade Project Institute (1959—1975), Atelier 4 at the Prague City Design Institute (1975—1987) and Stavoprojekt Liberec (1988—1990). After 1990, she had her own studio with various collaborators, later renamed Alena Šrámková Architects in 2005. She was a professor at the Faculty of Architecture at the Czech Technical University (from 1991). She received numerous awards, including the Personality of Czech Architecture from the Architects’ Guild (1994), the Czech Chamber of Architects’ Award (2007), the Medal of Merit (2008), and the Ministry of Culture Award for Contribution to Architecture (2010). Jan Šrámek (1924—1978) He worked at Stavoprojekt Žilina (1950—1953), Karel Filsak’s studio within the Prague Regional Project Institute (1954—1958), Konstruktiva architectural studio (1958—1960), Czechoslovak Airlines design studio (1960—1967), as head of the Beta studio at the Project Institute Association (1967—1969), and as director of Atelier 2 at the Prague City Design Institute (1969—1977). Excerpted from the book Architecture 58–89 Publication concept, editor, author of discussions: Vladimir 518 Dům ČKD | Foto: Prague City Tourism