Klára Ullmannová (Prague): “Post-war” Architecture in Czechia as Heritage. Present-day Discourses

This contribution attempts to outline the discursive mechanisms deployed in the heritage process and construction of “post-war” architecture as (not) heritage by the various actors in the process. In what ways do they operate? What kinds of values do different actors prefer to uphold, and does this lead to “censoring” of other values, and, ultimately, of heritage of a certain period? 
Architecture of the second half of the 20th century in Czechia has begun to take part in the heritage process more actively during the last fifteen years. Since then, dozens of such buildings were formally recognized and legally protected by being included on the heritage list by the Ministry of Culture. Simultaneously, however, numerous other “post-war” buildings deemed valuable by members of the expert community were either rejected or even demolished despite their appeals to the Ministry. Most often, such buildings fall into disrepair unnoticed and lose their attributes to extensive refurbishment and pragmatic exploitation. 
This situation has led to nearly irreconcilable differences and contradictory opinions among the stakeholder groups, which has continued to make the heritage process increasingly contested. While the legal power of determining what should be regarded as heritage (and what not) has seemed reluctant to inscribe “post-war” architecture on the heritage list, the expert community has attempted to highlight its positive values through different research projects. The general public is divided in opinion along similar lines. The paper presents preliminary findings of ongoing dissertation research.