DOX and Contemporary Prague

See that massive wooden airship perched on the roof. That's Gulliver, and it's not going anywhere. This whole building is DOX, the largest private contemporary art space in the country, and it opened in 2008 inside a converted factory from the 1890s. Entrepreneur Leoš Válka bought this abandoned factory in 2002 after living abroad for 15 years. He wanted to create something bold for contemporary art in a city known mostly for medieval architecture. Architect Ivan Kroupa transformed the industrial complex into 3,000 square meters of gallery space. The renovation earned a nomination for the prestigious Mies van der Rohe Award the same year it opened. In 2016, Válka added what he called a parasitic structure on top. The 42 meter long airship took 3 years to design and build. Made from wood and steel, it's inspired by early 20th century zeppelins and holds 120 people for literary events and discussions. Architect Martin Rajniš, who won the 2014 Global Prize for Sustainable Architecture, designed it with Válka. DOX doesn't collect art. It rotates exhibitions, blending visual art with literature, theater, and music. The whole concept came from private funding. You're standing in front of what happens when someone decides contemporary culture matters as much as history.