Panelák: part two

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At first these Panelaks were considered architectural wonders, modern, spacious post war housing with running water and central heating.  The first panalaks in Prague were built in the early 50s and people remember moving into them as youngsters with great excitement – everything was shiny and new, modern lifts took them up to their flat, there were other children to play with who lived right next door.

But sixty years later their glory has definitely faded.  Once roomy and spacious for a young family became crammed and tiny for teenagers.  

The paper thin walls didn’t help, you could hear every argument or ablution from the people upstairs, there was no privacy….

…your neighbours knew exactly what colour knickers you had - and just quite how often you washed them.


But there wasn't much escape from it, unlike in the UK where most of us try to move up the property ladder, or have the freedom of renting and moving around, most Czechs live in their panelaks for life.


Take my husband's two great Aunts, they moved into their panelak in 1956 and it's pretty much now as it was then, it's like a living museum to that era.  I love visiting (not just because they are lovely) but I also because I feel as though I’ve stepped into the movie Goodbye Lenin.

The first time I went to the loo I was surprised, it was like walking into a blue telephone box off the hallway - but it was certainly no Tardis, it was tiny.  I found out later that all the inner walls of the flat are made from plastic or chipboard, slotted in like pieces of Lego.


Nowadays people have more disposable income but a lot of them still can’t afford to move, instead there is a booming home improvement industry.  Around us there are tons of DIY stores/ kitchen shops. These panelaks are undergoing make overs that would make TV shows like SOS DIY / Extreme Makeover weep to get their hands on (now there’s an idea for a series….!)

The Czech Government can't afford to knock these panalaks down and build houses, but at the same time they can't afford for the middle classes to move out.  So in a bid to prevent them from becoming like the UK housing estates which are often associated with high unemployment/ lower social economic classes, they are trying to make them more attractive places to live for young professionals, painting them bright colours to hide the grey concrete,

building new parks for children, leisure centres and cinemas for teenagers, even shopping malls, pubs and churches.  They are planting trees and flowers hoping to break up some of the anonymous lines....

...quality of life has definitely improved for many.... although you'd still better hope for good neighbours!