Built over a century ago on the banks of the Chrudimka River, the massive flour mills in the centre of Pardubice in the Czech Republic have undergone a radical transformation in the 21st century from what was once an industrial facility to a vibrant culture hub. Recognized as a national cultural monument, the fortress-like building complex has been recently renovated under the auspices of the Automatic Mills Foundation with the help of several architects, including Czech practice Prokš Přikryl architekti who were responsible for converting the imposing grain silo into a multipurpose events and art venue. Thoroughly reconfigured to cater to the brief’s cultural and social aspirations, the building has nevertheless retained its industrial heritage and architectural quirkiness thanks to the team’s seamless integration of old and new elements. Boasting a rooftop bar with views of the city, the revamped silo is a vibrant part of Automatic Mills and the city at large.
Built in 1909 and extended in 1924 with the addition of the grain silo, the mills operated continuously for more than 100 years until 2013. Located near the city’s picturesque centre, a medley of late-Renaissance Baroque and Neo-Gothic architecture, the industrial complex may have seen to be out of place if it wasn’t for Josef Gočár, one of the founders of modern architecture in the Czech Republic, whose fanciful design includes rusticated ground floors. brick facades in various geometric patterns and crenelated rooftops. So when it came to the building’s renovation, the team stayed true to Gočár’s design, painstakingly restoring the original brick façades.
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