Limits of Architecture - Notes from the Fourth Discussion Evening

```html Where does architecture begin and end? This question was posed by the association Architects Without Borders. An association that is interested in public space and interpersonal relationships. Thus, the project of discussion evenings titled The Boundaries of Architecture was created, aimed at bringing together architects and experts from other professions at the same table. The discussion evenings will provide perspectives on a single topic from various angles, or conversely, a crossroads may crystallize from different opinions. The discussion evenings of The Boundaries of Architecture are open to both professional and lay audiences. Audience involvement in the discussion, whether by questions or opinions, is welcomed.
The third discussion evening focused on the theme of Functional Tourism. How is public space transformed under the influence of tourism? What should the role of the city be, what can be influenced or regulated? How could tourism function without weakening the city? The guests of the discussion evening The Boundaries of Architecture in November 2018 were social geographer Michaela Pixová and Kristýna Drápalová from the Institute of Planning and Development of the Capital City of Prague.

Historical and social contexts of the tourist boom in Prague
Michaela mentioned the specifics of Prague in the introduction, which underwent a complete transformation in the 1990s. This was influenced by restitutions, privatizations, and the laissez-faire approach of politicians. This combination resulted in both the transformation of the functional use of the center and unequal conditions for residents, leading to great frustration for some: while some unbelievably became wealthy, others had no right to privatize their apartments. However, residents, in most cases, did not know how to defend themselves, with visible reactions being rather minimal. People were already aware of the potential of tourism at that time. The delayed commercialization of the center, compared to the west, also played a role in the transformation of the center, leading to a drain of local residents.

The transformation of the center
Kristýna stated that the current problem of Prague lies in tourists who stay only for a short time. On average, tourists spend two days in the capital. They go through the tourist hit parade and move on. This approach is entirely consumerist, superficial, and simultaneously quick. The ground floor in affected areas adapts to tourist demand: for instance, on the Royal Route, which is just over four kilometers long, there are around eighty jewelry stores, countless currency exchanges and souvenir shops, and only two grocery stores.
Local residents are thus leaving the center for this reason as well. In Prague 1, there are now only about twenty thousand residents, scattered over several areas – in Nový Svět, around Dlouhá street, or in the Petrská district. Here we primarily find offices and company headquarters. On the other hand, the number of tourists who came to Prague has increased by two million in the last five years.

Problems of the center
Among the most cited "tourist" ailments of the center are Segways and similar electric vehicles, which have even earned their own prohibitive traffic sign, disturbances of nighttime peace, and beer tours - pub crawls. Last but not least, there are short-term accommodations like Airbnb.

What is Prague's stance?
Tourism is an important source of funds for the capital, accounting for one-tenth of the budget. The city has defined in its Strategic Plan the goal of extending the length of tourists' stays – so that they have time to visit cultural destinations – and secondly, for tourism to spread to other parts of Prague. It tries to draw attention to industrial monuments or the cultural quarter Art District 7. The overarching city organization is Prague City Tourism (formerly the Prague Information Service), which processes tourist information about Prague, maps, and informational materials. The former director of this organization has expressed that Prague wants to focus on wealthier tourists and limit so-called backpackers.
The impacts of tourism are also a significant topic on a political level, as Michaela noted, who participated in both the creation of the Strategic Plan and was present at public debates during the creation of the Metropolitan Plan. Political discussions, however, foundered on the clash between the right and the left: namely, the question of whether to allow the invisible hand of the market to operate freely or whether private interests should be regulated in the public interest.

And what regulatory tools does Prague have or should it have?
According to Kristýna, we do not yet know many tools or do not know how to work with them. A small tool is the tourist tax, which is currently only 15 CZK per night. An amendment is being prepared to raise it to 50 CZK. For comparison, Michaela mentioned the tax in Bhutan, which is about 100 dollars a day. The effect? Only true enthusiasts will come who want to experience the place. Prague has, for example, developed guidelines for the appearance of outdoor cafés and signage, but their enforceability is questionable.
A position known as the night mayor (established on January 21, 2019, note by the author) is currently being considered to address issues during nighttime peace. Other possible tools include limiting the establishment of new hotels as well as short-term rentals. The Belgian city of Bruges banned the creation of new hotels back in 1996, and "holiday homes" in 2002. Additionally, softer tools such as tax differentiation, regulation of building and space usage could be employed. In Prague, property relations are a significant obstacle, as most buildings in the Prague Heritage Reservation are privately owned.

Air transport and tourism
In the last decade, tourism has become a mass phenomenon, largely due to low-cost airlines offering tickets at unbeatable prices (thanks to - paradoxically - subsidized aviation fuel). Examples include Venice or Barcelona, which became tourist hits after airlines began bringing in tourists. However, the flip side of the available tickets is the increasingly alarming debate on the impending environmental disaster. Air transport is one of the major emitters of CO2 and significantly contributes to global warming. Worse, air transport has no alternative that does not leave a carbon footprint. Therefore, the only alternative is not to fly.

Conclusion
Michaela Pixová concluded the debate by pointing out that the decision of whether we will support continuous economic and tourist growth or prioritize survival on the planet is in our own hands. Kristýna Drápalová's final wish was that before traveling abroad, we carefully consider whether, in light of all the negative impacts of tourism, we truly need to visit the given place. What should our visit mean – what do we want to learn, what experience do we want to have, what should remain from our journey aside from a few photos? And do we really have to travel for that – can't we achieve the same result in another way, for example by reading or looking at photos? Kristýna highlighted the high status of travel in our social values hierarchy, although in itself it is not positive or meaningful – at least not in its most widespread consumer form. Let us rather travel less but more slowly and thoroughly. We can contribute to a little reflection by perhaps stopping to like friends' photos from distant travels and Euro weekends.
Note: The above text is a shortened version of the minutes from the discussion evening The Boundaries of Architecture: Functional Tourism, which took place on November 20, 2018, at the premises of the Scout Institute in Old Town Square.
The event is organized by Architects Without Borders (speakers RNDr. Michaela Pixová, Ph.D., and Mgr. Kristýna Drápalová).
RNDr. Michaela Pixová, Ph.D. is a social geographer researching urban environments and their relationship to alternative cultures and active civil society. An activist involved in the founding of the NGO PragueWatch, a former active member of the artistic group Guma Guar, who once also performed under the pseudonym MC Mikatchou as a vocal accompaniment to electronic dance music. Today, she is primarily interested in urban activism in the Czech Republic, which she studies as part of her postdoctoral project at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University. As an author, she collaborates with the online daily A2larm, where besides topics related to her field, she focuses on criticizing the female condition in the Czech patriarchal and materially focused society, especially in relation to the maternity care system and parenthood.
Mgr. Kristýna Drápalová studied art history at the Faculty of Humanities at Charles University in Prague. She regularly wrote texts about art, architecture, and urban development for the Orientation section of Lidové noviny and other periodicals. During her studies, she began collaborating with the Institute of Planning and Development of Prague. She has served in various positions within this institution, and currently deals with issues related to the Prague Heritage Reservation.
The author of the article Ing. arch. Karolína Kripnerová is an architect and co-founder of the association Architects Without Borders. In her doctoral studies at the Faculty of Architecture of the Czech Technical University in Prague, she focuses on the topic of Social Sustainability from the perspective of architecture.
Architects Without Borders is a non-profit organization that brings together architects and designers interested in public space. The organization aims to initiate and participate in projects for disadvantaged people, cultivate public spaces, and strengthen interpersonal relationships. Architects Without Borders is, among other things, behind the implementation of the Orientation System in the underpasses below Hlávka Bridge or the initiative of Public Wardrobes in Prague.
The series of public debates The Boundaries of Architecture was supported by a grant from the Czech Architecture Foundation.

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