New Cultural Landmark for Prague? National Museum Plans Innovative Expansion

A team led by the management of the National Museum (NM) in Prague is developing a concept for a multimedia museum dedicated to world cultures, named Museum of the World – Museum Mundi.

This innovative museum could be built above the roofed tracks of the main station. Investors had previously announced that a public building would be constructed there.

If all goes well, construction could commence within seven years, according to Michal Lukeš, the director general of the National Museum in Prague.

“There hasn’t been a new museum building in Prague since the National Technical Museum. If we want a quality museum with innovative presentations, we can’t use existing premises,” said Lukeš.

“We aim to showcase common human experiences such as birth, upbringing, relationships, home, business, medicine, law, government, conflict, and funerals. This will highlight both unity and diversity. Our slogan will be ‘Unity in Diversity.’ We are searching for a novel way to present human civilization,” he added.

Currently, the collections of world cultures are housed in the Náprstek Museum of Asian, African, and American Cultures, but this space is inadequate for NM’s future plans and is undergoing renovation.

“We concluded that it’s not feasible to house the Museum of the World in its current location due to visitor limits and space constraints. The Czech Republic deserves a new building for these collections,” said Lukeš.

“We support the idea of a new building for the National Museum. The space above the Vinohrady tunnels is ideal due to its proximity to the Museum Oasis. It will not only be a museum but also an educational hub for the young generation,” said Petr Hlaváček, Prague’s deputy for territorial and strategic development.

“This location is perfect for our planned Museum of the World. It will expand the National Museum’s capacity, which sometimes struggles with visitor numbers. The Museum of the World could host lectures, film screenings, and more. We envision a complex with themes of nature, history, and world cultures connected to the main railway station and the metro,” said Lukeš.

Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more