St. Anne’s Church originally housed the Dominican Sisters' monastery in Prague’s Old Town. Its origins date back to the 11th century when it was a Templar commandery. During the 1320s, it was expanded and transformed into one of the most beautiful examples of Gothic religious architecture in Prague. In the late 17th century, the monastery was dissolved, the church was deconsecrated, and many of the original Gothic features were destroyed. Wooden floors, installed at that time, have been preserved to this day, and the church served as a paper warehouse for many years.

Václav Havel and his wife undertook the funding of the building’s restoration and preservation, now home to their charitable foundation, VIZE 97. The church has been transformed into a multifunctional space with a capacity of up to 300 people, suitable for concerts, conferences, exhibitions, and performances.

The goal of the restoration was not only to conserve the exterior and interior of the building, along with the surviving elements and wall paintings but also to remove the wooden mezzanine and introduce new interior features. These include a staircase to the gallery, a spiral staircase to the tower, a service walkway along the perimeter of the roof structure, suspended steel ribs that echo the original Gothic vaults, a platform for performers, flooring, and guest facilities, along with lighting and acoustic equipment. The aim was to create a versatile space with a capacity of up to 400 people, ideal for concerts, conferences, exhibitions, and theatrical performances. The existing frescoes are continuously being conserved and restored under the supervision of heritage conservationists and restorers. These restored frescoes are illuminated by lights from the walkway in the roof structure, allowing for various lighting scenes. At the end of the main nave, above the stage, a symbolic altar featuring a painting by Adriena Šimotová has been installed.

The restoration is largely complete, and the church is now being used for various events. The opening of the church marked the completion of the third phase of the renovation, with further phases planned. Upcoming work includes expanding the existing facilities and constructing a new gallery stage for additional seating, as well as a complete renovation of the roof and facade. We received an honorable mention in the Reconstruction category at the Grand Prix of the Society of Architects for the project.