The activities of the Prague Institute extend beyond the borders of the Czech Republic acting as a coordinating centre for Eastern Europe. It is located in a magnificent four-story art nouveau building on the banks of the Vltava river directly across from the Czech National Theatre. Through its location and elaborate facade, it has a place in one of Prague’s most prominent urban ensembles. The history of the building also requires a particular measure of sensitivity with respect to the design approach as from the 1950s to the 1990s it served as the embassy of the GDR.