Endangered Species is an authored book by Jan Šrámek presenting a collection of 37 prints capturing significant buildings of Czechoslovak architecture from 1953 to 1989. Selected illustrations from this publication now adorn the outdoor wall of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Cairo, where they create a standalone exhibition accessible to the public directly from Dokki Street until the end of February 2026. The original riso graphics have been digitized for the purposes of the book and represent both iconic buildings such as the Ještěd department store and the Transgas complex, as well as lesser-known regional objects.
Particular emphasis is placed on endangered, neglected, or already vanished buildings — for example, Mazutka, Prior Brno, or the cultural house in Plzeň. Šrámek's typology (T – threatened, D – demolished, R – rebuilt, S – saved) allows for a broader perspective on the existence of individual objects and highlights the varying degrees of preservation of post-war architecture. The book and the exhibition thus open the topic of the cultural value of architecture from 1953 to 1989 and the state of its protection.
The exhibition Endangered Species is also complemented by an illustration by Jan Šrámek representing the iconic building of the Czech Embassy in Cairo itself.
The organizers
Embassy of the Czech Republic in Cairo
Czech Centre Cairo
