The study examines the mechanisms behind the postwar development of department stores in (Czecho-) Slovakia against the background of the centrally planned economy of the socialist state. It examines the role of both state (Prior) and cooperative (Jednota) enterprises, along with specialized state owned project institutes like ŠPÚO and DRUPRO, in shaping this typology. Emphasizing rationalization, standardization, yet equally architectural innovation, the text reveals how department stores became tools of modernization, socio-political representation, and urban development – yet today face neglect or demolition despite their cultural and architectural significance.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31577/archandurb.2025.59.1-2.5
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