Archive Architecture This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A voter casts her ballot at a polling station in Ricany The elections for regional assemblies and one-third of the Senate seats began in the Czech Republic on Friday afternoon 20 (Xinhua) -- The elections for regional assemblies and one-third of the Senate seats began in the Czech Republic on Friday afternoon Over 8,200 candidates are running for the 675 regional council seats and 169 registered candidates are vying for 27 seats in the 81-seat Senate If a Senate candidate in a given district does not win a majority in the first round pitting the two candidates with the most votes against each other People will elect regional representatives for four years in 13 regions of the country except for Prague whose elections are held on a different date Voting is also underway in municipalities in the northeastern and eastern regions of the Czech Republic which were affected by last weekend's floods The main opposition party Action of Dissatisfied Citizens (ANO) is reportedly defending its overall victory in the regions while the ruling Civic Democrats (ODS) is seeking the most re-election of its candidates in the Senate race The elections are two days long and will end at 2 p.m with preliminary results expected to be known in the evening of the same day A man registers at a polling station in Ricany Alex Donnachie Wins First X Games Gold and Mariah Duran Wins Back-to-Back Gold in Street Finals competition kicked off at Spotless Stadium bringing the first X Games to fans in Sydney Local legends impressed their hometown crowds with world-class performances Leading the charge was Sydney-local Lewis Mills who took home his first X Games medal with BMX Street silver in his first X Games competition as the youngest in the field 11-year old Keefer Wilson became the second youngest competitor in X Games history when he dropped into the Skateboard Big Air Qualifier Mansfield native Hayley Wilson finished in sixth place in the Women’s Skateboard Street final Jaie Toohey earned the final transfer spot Kicking off the first final of X Games Sydney with a bang the BMX Street final stunned fans with Scottish rider Alex Donnachie upsetting perennial gold medal favorite Garrett Reynolds for his first X Games medal The medal also put him in the history books as Scotland’s first X Games medalist Sydney native Lewis Mills impressed the hometown crowd with a silver medal performance forcing Fiend teammate and eight-time gold medalist Garrett Reynolds to settle for his first X Games bronze A repeat of the X Games Minneapolis podium Leticia Bufoni and Aori Nishimura all earned back-to-back medals in the Women’s Skateboard Street competition The reigning gold medalist took the top spot early with a first run score of 89.00 that held for the rest of the competition The day began with Big Air qualifications for both Skateboard and BMX where Brazilians took the top qualifying spot in each Douglas Oliveira was the top qualifier in the BMX competition and Rony Gomes took the top Skateboard spot The top three BMX riders and top four Skateboarders will join the prequalified athletes in the finals For X Games media information, including press releases, logos and additional images from X Games events, log on to www.xgames.com for the public and www.espnmediazone.com for media For photos please visit ESPN Images Danny Chi X Games, 213-405-4400; [email protected] Grace Coryell X Games, 213-405-4402; [email protected] Olivia Wilson X Games, 213-405-4145; [email protected] Need Photos? Click the logo and sign up for access to the ESPN Images Library Among the few fond memories that I have from my kindergarten in a small Northeastern city in India are the early morning visits to an animal shelter to feed the jumping rabbits—an activity which attracted all early comers The scant crowd at this early hour ensured that I could get involved in the activity without having to wiggle my way through a packed gathering of tiny tots no one pushing or urging me to shift or move away from my place—these seemingly inconsequential factors would ensure that I enjoy my time without any unwanted worry require only that—easy accessibility to simple desires choosing a seat in class next to their best friend and enjoying a meal in peace without the futile calculation of saving up enough time for a game of hide-and-seek with their friends afterwards or peeping outside the windows of their classrooms for periodic bouts of distraction and daydreaming shut away from any chance interaction with serendipitous occurring the architectural practice drew out the plan after an assessment of the needs and desire of children Architektura was given the task of spearheading the kindergarten design for the city with a focus on sports facilities and the availability of a gymnasium The kindergarten school is built as part of a new development plan for the Říčany-Větrník area “First we thought about the child as a phenomenon–what constitutes childhood the institutions that fit them into the System And what physical abilities does the child have?” the studio questioned Various aspects of human behaviour are either lost or fade with age Among them is the general curiosity for everything Schools and systems need to cater to this persistent inquisitiveness that is fleeting Addressing them not only serves to improve the learnings of children but also helps create a safe space for them where their feelings and questions are validated hence leading them to grow into secure individuals It is for the same reason that education across the globe is slowly but surely witnessing the addition of non-traditional aspects that were previously deemed unreasonable Special attention is now levied towards mental health; tests and exams are often given lesser attention and practical applications that are encouraged “The child is in the System and the purpose is to become a proper and non-problematic part That is why we see such a development of alternative education The topic of education as a state discipline is an important phenomenon for us personally but not enough about all details of education about the mystery of childhood,” Architektura shared In an attempt to take into consideration the aforementioned factors and the management of the Town of Říčany before the proposal for Větrník Kindergarten was finalised the scale of objects suitable for them—all these factors and more were studied and assessed to draw the final plan for the school The architecture studio split the mass of the structure into different parts While the overall plan comprises three areas the massing of the structure is far more fractioned The main entrance—resembling a portal that leads up to a mysterious temple or spaceship—from the street leads up to a central atrium on the opposite side of which lies a cuboid room housing offices and other administrative facilities The individual classrooms lie around the central atrium with spanning outward views to the playground-cum-garden A spider web net hanging—with the help of four tree trunks acting as columns—on the first floor in the atrium space connected to all the classrooms in the building The atrium space is also alternatively meant to function as a community space perform a song or dance or indulge in theatrics While the playground and garden space lies behind the building The large classrooms—three in number—dotted sparsely with furniture leave ample space for children to move around While two classrooms lie on the ground floor a third one is positioned on the first floor The geometric extensions on the facade of the structure and bearing semblance to pyramids and pagodas They are extensions to the classrooms within the building another void to explore within the premises While they appear like life-size construction blocks affixed to the school structure the triangular windows on its surface allow the influx of light within the structure The facade facing the street is designed as a vertical green wall “We hope that it will sweep and thicken to one day absorb the entire facade,” the designers share The playground for Větrník Kindergarten is also meant to resemble a verdant fantasy land The services in the building are tended through translucent pipes that attempt to reveal the flow of water electricity and airflow within the building as an example of divulging important information in a fun way the designers could not realise all their ideas due to strained finances “We wanted cast coloured floors (there is vinyl) more colourful bathrooms with some art and pictures (presently they are quite simple more greenery on the street facade (there is only partial greenery) and a more diverse playground,” they explained In picking up physical references for the school from fantastical stories and fairy tales Architektura manages to design a home for children that encouraging them to indulge in storytelling to ideate and create imaginary and physical worlds that can perhaps become a reality someday Almas forayed into writing to fulfil her nascent aspiration of exploring latent tales and forging immersive narratives Apart from researching and writing on and about the latest creations and creators from the architecture and design fraternity she endeavours to explore the socio-political cultural and temporal factors that impact and are impacted by every kind of design and creative intervention From vernacular knowledge to modern sustainability Middle Eastern pavilions serve as living archives of architectural thought offering fresh frameworks for global adoption STIR engages with the curators of the Togo Oman and Qatar pavilions—debuting at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025—on representation the book presents a fictional story depicting algorithms exercising control over humans and how this affects the built environment Tipnis shares how the toolbox democratises the practice of restoration via DIY resources to repair tangible urban heritage made of common building materials Exclusive preview for subscribers. Learn More Make your fridays matter. Learn More © Copyright 2019-2025 STIR Design Private Limited Please confirm your email address and we’ll send you a link to reset your password All your bookmarks will be available across all your devices Password must be 8 characters long including one capital letter By creating an account, you acknowledge and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy by STIR Select the Conversation Category you would like to watch Please enter your details and click submit Single account access for STIRworld.com,STIRpad.com and exclusive STIRfri content Verification link sent to check your inbox or spam folder to complete sign up process by Almas Sadique | Published on : Apr 01 DAYTONA BEACH — Despite some scattered showers, several dozen people turned out to celebrate the opening of the northside portion of the new Daytona Beach Riverfront Esplanade in downtown Daytona Beach on Saturday morning "I couldn't wait for it to open," said Daytona Beach resident Caroline Ricany referring to the former city park which had been closed the past two years for an extensive makeover project entirely paid for by donations from local philanthropists Hyatt and Cici Brown we used to come to help clean up Manatee Island (which is part of the new Riverfront Esplanade)," recalled Ricany it used to be full of needles and homeless people Rebirth of Riverfront Park: North end of refurbished esplanade opening in downtown Daytona Beach Previous coverage: Daytona Beach's $25 million Riverfront Park overhaul in full swing Hyatt Brown is the chairman of Brown & Brown Insurance whose 11-story headquarters building is directly across the street from the north portion of the new Riverfront Esplanade.  "The city didn't give a single penny on this nor did any other government," said Hyatt Brown which was originally expected to cost $15 million but is now likely to total at least $31 million upon completion of the esplanade's southside in November Brown's wife Cici described the project as her and her husband's "gift to the city." Their donation included $3 million which is going into a rainy day fund called the Brown Asset Reclamation Foundation Inc to be used for future repairs in the event of a hurricane or flooding Hyatt Brown tested out the jogging path at the new Riverfront Esplanade on Saturday morning and was pleased to see the small but gradually growing numbers of people including bicyclists and dog-walkers "It feels great," he said of seeing the project's first phase finally completed sweat and tears by a lot of people in order to get where we are It's coming out much better than I expected." the Browns created a not-for-profit organization called the Brown Riverfront Esplanade Foundation Inc to overhaul and manage the former public park.  The park was renamed an "esplanade" at the suggestion of Daytona Beach city officials to allow it to become privately managed "We were highly encouraged by legal in the city to not refer to it as a park anymore because we want to be able to control attendance," said Joe Yarbrough the former longtime city manager for South Daytona who came out of retirement to become manager of the new Riverfront Esplanade The city continues to own the 22.5 acre stretch of land that runs along the west bank of the Halifax River from Main Street south to Orange Street but it is now managed by the Brown Riverfront Esplanade Foundation through a 50-year lease "It's no longer a public park," said Yarbrough "It's an esplanade and because it's private now we no longer have to put up with the tents and homeless population that was a significant deterrent to the public using it." The makeover project did more than just clean up the former park It also transformed what Yarbrough described as a flat expanse of land consisting of "dead grass" and overgrown bushes and trees The esplanade now features series of small rolling hills and new landscaping including the addition of hundreds of mature replanted trees many of which were personally picked out by Hyatt Brown The esplanade also has a walking/jogging/bicycle path and a new dog park at the north end of the esplanade Other amenities include both a north and south lawn "entertainment area" for live music group classes and other festivities.  The city has agreed to provide a yearly reimbursement of $800,000 to help cover a portion of the esplanade's expected $1.6 million in annual maintenance and operational costs The remainder of those costs will need to come from revenues generated by renting portions of the esplanade for special events such as wedding receptions and private parties as well as by hosting festivals and/or music concerts where admission fees can be charged Scheduled opening day festivities included a morning fun run/walk and a free yoga class led by Renew Yoga co-owner Melissa Smith who came with her husband Bryan and their dog Moka "This is exciting that we have this beautiful park for everyone to come out and enjoy," said Smith who hopes the new esplanade will help draw more shoppers to downtown Daytona Beach "I'm excited for the other end (of the esplanade) to open up." Renew Yoga is located across the street from the south portion of the esplanade Former Daytona Beach City Commissioner Kelly White and her husband Jack brought their triplet 6-year-old daughters Claire Mae and Sarah to try out the new slide at the esplanade operate the Jack White Land Company which owns and manages several commercial properties in the city's historic business district They have been involved in efforts to revitalize the area since the early 2000s "We're so happy this is in our backyard," said Kelly White Other planned opening day festivities included a Summer Kickoff Lawn Party from noon to 3 p.m and an Evening Lawn Chill event from 4 to 7 p.m featuring a beer and wine garden and live music by a local musician known as Ace The esplanade will regularly host community events such as outdoor showings of movies and live entertainment A schedule of upcoming events can be found on its website at riverfrontesplanade.com the esplanade will host a "30 Days of Christmas" event where the entire stretch from Main Street to Orange Avenue will be adorned in holiday lights and where festivities will be held on a nightly basis The esplanade will also have extended operating hours that month While most of the esplanade will be fenced in with 37 entry gates two portions of the former city park will remain open as public "forums," said Yarbrough: the Bethune Plaza at the east end of Mary McLeod Bethune Boulevard where a status of Bethune-Cookman University founder Dr and the Veterans Plaza just north of the International Speedway Boulevard bridge A security crew will regularly patrol the esplanade grounds as well as monitor it via security video cameras to prevent people from illegally trespassing when it is closed at night Cici Brown said she and her husband visited parks throughout Florida to get ideas on how to transform the former Riverfront Park in a way that can be sustained It's no secret what the key to success is "This park has been upgraded and brought to life on several occasions in its history but every time it's gone down the tube because they (the city) haven't maintained it," Cici Brown said "If we want this park to be a beautiful enjoyable place We’re planning on building the gym but the kindergarten and part of the garden are already completed,’ says the studio Taking inspiration from ‘the child as a phenomenon’ Architektura devised a free-form complex with protruding These structures jut out of a central white cube where an entrance atrium welcomes visitors to enjoy a spiderweb-like rope installation suspended from tree trunks ‘Many meetings took place with teachers, representatives of sports clubs, and the management of the Town of Říčany before the proposal was settled. The children themselves were essential – their games, movement, vision, and scale. Children’s spontaneity, disorganization, unpredictability, purity, curiosity, optimism, and unburdened by the bitterness of life,’ elaborates the team Architeektura assigned all functional programs to the central white structure breaking out of the rectangular mold and reaching for the garden spaces transform into play areas for hiding they allow ample daylight pour in from triangular windows enlivening visible wooden structures that recall tree branches.  spiderweb-like hammock installation serves as a play area accessible from all classrooms ‘We hope it will be used and the children will swing and fly The net is carried by tree trunks that have been thanked for their service The atrium also serves as a community space for singing and theater,’ notes Architektura The main entrance is accessed from the street evoking the door to a mysterious temple or spaceship The street-facing façade is partially designed as vertical greenery which will hopefully thicken and spread to one day absorb the entire front the technical infrastructure is left partially visible for children to witness how and where water house-shaped blocks host the children’s classrooms ‘We wanted to build an object for children that is not an institution it is playful and will enable the development of creativity and all the beautiful specificities of the child’s soul An object that will create subconscious images for children that may one day arise in adulthood to develop something…’ concludes the studio.  a spiderweb-like installation suspended on tree trunks slanted façades letting ample light pour in client: Municipality of Říčany architecture: Architektura construction: Pavel Ježek, Tomáš Kalous – Projecticon main contractor: Zlínstav technical supervision: Vejvoda botanical design: Flora Urbanica furniture: Kanona playground: S.O.S. – DEKORACE photography: Filip Šlapal AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style I've pipped for the wholly improper Action Bronson - Cocodrillo Turbo Prob best not to crank this up on the school drop; if you have to play it to your granny then I'd suggest loading her up with sherry beforehand I'm a sucker for this more recent breed of hip hop; a sound mined by Action Bronson partnered with a dizzying selection of obscure sample loops; it's a treat just to investigate the source material Rhyming schemes trip over each other whilst painting vivid snapshots Maybe the best way to describe this music is pure escapism It's like being thrown into a blend of outlandish movie scenes all at once The perfect tonic for dealing with the humdrum of modern life.  One could spend a lifetime pouring over the Stax catalogue a virtually bottomless treasure chest of soul and funk gems This neat compilation provides a sweetly curated overview - from the iconic Staple Singers to beloved groovers Booker T and the MGs There's one tune here which I truly adore: the timeless classic 'Private Number' by William Bell and Judy Clay.Firstly It's one of those infectious riffs that's been sampled countless times For anyone my age it may well conjure up memories of trip hop artists like Nightmares On Wax and Aim The tune itself though is an absolute soul belter a glorious ode to forbidden love and the patient lasting tenderness needed to see it through Also a reminder of what courtship looked like before smartphones and Tinder ruled supreme.  One other essential tune here: Johnnie Taylor - Save Your Love For Me The very definition of a heart melter.  If you’d like to know more, or you’re keen to discover more of our repertoire, please contact: labelsyncuk@concord.com TOMS RIVER, NJ – Toms River, New Jersey is a town that has produced a surprising number of talented individuals who have gone on to make a name for themselves in various fields From social media sensations to renowned athletes Toms River has nurtured and cultivated an impressive array of talent Let’s take a closer look at some of the famous individuals from Toms River Will DeVane – TikTok Star At just 21 years old Will DeVane has garnered a substantial following on TikTok With his entertaining and relatable content Will has captivated audiences and gained popularity for his comedic sketches and lip-sync performances Melissa Gorga – Reality Star Melissa Gorga rose to fame as a cast member of the reality TV series “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.” Known for her strong personality and business ventures Melissa has become a well-known figure in the entertainment industry Kyle Abellar – TikTok Star Kyle Abellar has amassed a large following with his engaging dance routines and creative content His energetic performances have made him a rising star on the popular social media platform Tyler Gonnella – TikTok Star Tyler Gonnella another talented TikTok star from Toms River has gained recognition for his engaging videos and vibrant personality Tyler has attracted a significant audience on TikTok Vinnie Salek – TikTok Star Vinnie Salek has captured the attention of viewers with his humor and creativity His unique content and engaging personality have contributed to his popularity on the platform Al Leiter – Baseball Player Al Leiter Leiter’s talent and dedication led him to become a highly respected pitcher Brian Geraghty – Movie Actor Brian Geraghty known for his notable roles in films such as “The Hurt Locker” and “Flight,” has made a name for himself in the movie industry With his impressive acting skills and versatility Geraghty has garnered critical acclaim for his performances Frankie Edgar – MMA Fighter Frankie Edgar is a renowned mixed martial artist who hails from Toms River Edgar’s determination and skill have made him one of the top fighters in the world of MMA Actress Piper Perabou also has roots in Toms River Jazmyn Foberg – Gymnast Jazmyn Foberg has represented Toms River with her exceptional skills in the sport has gained recognition for his daring stunts and impressive tricks With his passion for the sport and unique style Ricany has become a respected figure in the BMX community Others from Toms River include former Major Leaguer Todd Fraizer and current New York Yankees Pitcher Ron Marinachio Comedian Kurt Metzger is also a Toms River native © 2008-2025 - Shore News Media & Marketing Ltd Take out a subscription to get immediate access to Broadcast: Get your ideas seen by the industry’s biggest names with the help of the leading TV development site Unlock essential intel on what top commissioners and distributors are looking for and how you can work with them By 2017-09-20T13:42:00+01:00 One time licensing giant goes into liquidation Ricall operated the “world’s largest online music research and licensing marketplace facilitating the use of music across all projects.” It was one of the first sync licensing companies to provide an online platform to enable music searches Its library ran to 4m tracks from 25,000 copyright owners The assets of Ricall – its e-commerce software and brand – is being looked after by Metis Partners which believes they could be sold to music licensing and digital music download services e-commerce retailers or software developers “The software behind Ricall’s innovative music licensing cost circa £6 million to develop The platform was designed with a high degree of configurability and can be reconfigured for a variety of different purposes.” MAIN PIC: Musician Charlie Millikin was one of many artists in the Ricall catalogue Following the lifting of the BBC’s ban on music by the Doors and Neil Young Kevin Hilton explores how new technologies and disruptive distribution models are reshaping UK licensing Online music licensing company Ricall has reached an agreement with Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL) to put 2,500 record labels on the internet Click the magazine for the future of virtual production; The sprint to FAST; What next for the rental sector AI governance and case studies from production; What’s on at MPTS; Is the future bright for post & VFX?; and plenty more from recreating the world of the Neanderthals to a superhero comedy and a conflict-avoiding dad The software provides no-latency multilingual subtitling for live streams 265 people to be made redundant just over two years since it acquired Weta Digital for £1.21bn Site powered by Webvision Cloud this drama of revenge sought by a countrywoman against two soldiers of the Wehrmacht was a radical negation of how the war had usually been viewed: in every Czech film Germans Sophisticated black-and-white camerawork helped create a mood of suspense in a story that artfully adheres to the unities of place It’s the last days of the war and Krista is forced to take two Wehrmacht soldiers to the Austrian border in her wagon The countrywoman hides an axe in the cart under the straw because she has something quite different in mind.. The only backdrop to this deliberately paced drama is a long forest road immersed in a silence only occasionally broken by the sounds of the accompanying organ music The latter contrasts sharply with the raw images and brutal scenes and helps to create the illusion that the forest is slowly transforming into a church – namely the place where we atone for our actions Or where we cast thoughts of bad deeds from our minds like Krista with her intention to exact a bloody revenge on the soldiers for her husband’s death During the mid-1960s the film offered a completely novel treatment of the war theme since it rejected the division of the opposing sides into evil Germans and good Czechs instead portraying the widespread degradation of man in a decayed Czech Republic) was part of the first generation of FAMU graduates Together with Vojtěch Jasný he made a series of documentaries that reflected the spirit of period propaganda Towards the end of the 1950s he collaborated with writer and scripter Jan Procházka Their films gradually fell foul of the regime since they controversially sought to uncover the fallacies of the communist interpretation of various historical events These works include Long Live the Republic (1965) A Ridiculous Gentleman (1969) and the extremely courageous The Ear (1970) locked away in the censor’s vault for twenty years Kachyňa still turned out another forty or so works in which he demonstrated his flair for storytelling and for finding poetry in real-life situations (The Doctor’s Coming The Karlovy Vary International Film Festivalis part of the KVIFF Group family The Czech Republic was ranked 45th out of 78 global countries by magazine US News and World Report. The 2021 Best Countries ranking was heavily weighted toward the business and economy but also included social and cultural factors The score runs against the results of similar rankings which tend to see the country more favorably reaching number one for the first time after having been at number two or three since the rankings began in 2016 The rankings seek to examine a nation's worth beyond hard metrics “Behind a country's wealth and success are the policies that create possibilities the people that drive the effort and the history that shapes the environment and perspective,” US News said adding that globalization has expanded a country's presence beyond its physical borders The list looked at 76 attributes grouped into 10 differently weighted subrankings: adventure The Czech Republic is at its lowest level since the ranking began It dropped several placed from the previous ranking in 2020 No specific reasons for the drop in score were stated the Czech Republic scored highest in social purpose This tracks among other things racial equality commitments to social justice and climate goals The country also came in 27th in quality of life It also includes intangibles such as job security The country did particularly poorly in being open for business only Poland was ahead of the Czech Republic while Hungary was 48th and Slovakia was 67th The report was made by US News in partnership with BAV Group a unit of global marketing communications company VMLY&R and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania It is based on a survey that asked more than 17,000 people from four regions to assess perceptions of 78 countries on 76 different metrics The capital city Prague not only ranks highly for humans. It was the fourth-best city for dogs according to Berlin-based insurance startup Coya scoring well for the number of dogs per inhabitant and the numbers of dog-friendly restaurants And of course the country continues to rank highly in beer consumption Your morning coffee deserves a great companion. Why not enjoy it with our daily newsletter? News from Czechia, curated insights, and inspiring stories in English. A recent survey named Prague one of the world’s top ten cities for expat life Rocketing house prices in the Czech capital are forcing many people to seek out more affordable locations that still provide excellent quality of life Their search could be helped by the new Quality of Life Index compiled by Obce v datech in collaboration with consulting company Deloitte the best quality of life in the Czech Republic is to be found in Říčany The picturesque town on the outskirts of Prague won the highest mark in an assessment of 29 separate parameters covering healthcare The survey's methodology saw the town assigned a score of 10 out of 10 by virtue of having the highest overall marks across the individual parameters All other cities in the country were assigned a lower score depending on how far they fell short of the benchmark set in Říčany The capital was far ahead of the rest of the competition with third place going to Brandýs nad Labem the survey makes it clear that the best quality of life in the Czech Republic is to be found either in the country’s major cities or in adjacent villages and towns meaning all of the top four are municipalities within striking distance of Prague city center Fifth place went to the Moravian capital Brno located a short trip down the highway from the thriving student city At the other end of the leaderboard are towns in more isolated parts of the country located near Ostrava in the Moravian-Silesian region both in the Ústi nad Labem region of North Bohemia The results of the survey provoked outrage in last-placed Orlová. The mayor of the town argued that “quality of life in Orlová definitely does not correspond with the picture presented by the data This is nothing more than a set of numbers with a dubious explanation.” He promised “steps to ensure that the good name of our town is not further damaged.” Other low-scoring cities note that the pandemic may have worsened inequalities: the deputy mayor of Litvínov said that problems in education arose during distance learning as some children did not have internet access or adequate equipment “The city is trying to support schools as much as it can. We have a project for schools, we are involved in the local education action plan and the budget for supplying equipment for schools has been approved,” she told the Czech Press Agency The results of the Quality of Life Index suggest that regional towns in the Czech Republic may be falling further behind big cities and nearby localities as a result of the pandemic This means those looking to leave the hustle and bustle of the Czech capital may see sticking close to Prague or Brno as a good idea With Prague property prices on the rise, many Praguers are looking to move to smaller towns outside the city. But choosing a new home base can be challenging especially if you don’t know where to start looking One of the biggest attractions of moving to the outskirts of Prague is more affordable real estate prices and the opportunity to purchase more living space Housing in Prague is sold for an average of more than CZK 100,000 per square meter but this price becomes significantly lower just a few kilometers away from the city The same amount of money will often get you an apartment twice as large once you move your search outside of Prague For those concerned about buying outside the city rest assured that many Czech towns and villages are no longer just abandoned satellites In addition to famous areas such as Říčany the lesser-known localities of Unhošť or Vysoký Újezd are also gaining popularity – destinations that can easily be reached from the center of Prague but that also have their own natural beauty and cultural life to offer Here’s our pick for 12 commuter villages worth a look if you’re considering buying a home outside of Prague The small village of Průhonice has become an unofficial extension of Prague an area to escape to for more greenery and less hustle and bustle Property prices in Průhonice have grown greatly over the past decade with the average house easily selling for 7-10 CZK millions now Nearby towns Cestlice and Dobrejovice offer similar beauty for better prices Distance from Prague: 6km or 15 minutes by local bus from Opatov Metro stop What makes it great: It doesn’t get closer to Prague than Průhonice a 250-hectare UNESCO Heritage natural area that’s home to over 1,600 species of local and exotic plants The sleepy village of Okoř has fewer than 100 permanent residents and very few amenities except for a couple of restaurants But it’s just a short drive away from both Prague and Kladno so you can get everything you need Distance from Prague: Bus 350 from Dejvická (42 mins) What makes it great: Living against the background of the 14th-century Okoř castle ruins doesn’t hurt The village is also a 10-minute drive from Václav Havel Airport Prague A popular resort destination at the turn of the 19th century Roztoky sits on the left bank of the Vltava River Roztoky has become a popular residential area for people who work in Prague but can’t afford to buy property in the city Distance from Prague: You can catch a bus from Dejvická or a train from Praha Masarykovo Nadrazi to get to Roztoky What makes it great: Roztoky offers riverside living at still affordable prices – a great area for nature lovers Roztoky is busier and livelier (as many Prague dwellers have weekend cottages in the area) which means festivals and events for the entire family The nearby villages of Úholičky and Velké Přílepy offer slightly cheaper real estate Kralupy is significantly bigger than other towns in this list at about 18,000 inhabitants The train line that goes towards Dresden stops here making it an important transportation hub and a busy little town Distance from Prague: About half an hour by commuter train from Praha Masarykovo Nadrazi What makes it great: Kralupy is just 15 km from the legendary Říp mountain This means plenty of tourists and as a result nice amenities lots of restaurants and plenty of historical and cultural attractions worth visiting with plenty of trails cutting through town and into the nearby forests Benešov is just over an hour away from Prague by train so commuters might shy away from the location the town of Benešov is just 38 minutes from Prague and a good choice for lower prices and quiet living Distance from Prague: Trains leave from Praha Hlavni Nadrazi every 30 minutes Buses from Prague ÚAN Florenc are also available but take slightly longer What makes it great: Benešov is home to Konopiště castle surrounded by green gardens and nature trails and things to do (including a fun and unique Motorcycle Museum) If you’re not scared of the slightly longer commute you might be able to find some good real estate bargains here Černosice is at the start of the Berounka valley a vast area that extends all the way to Beroun Distance from Prague: Depends on where you’re going Trains depart from Praha Hlavni Nadrazi several times per hour What makes it great: The Berounka Valley is popular with hikers and cyclists and offers plenty of outdoor activities all year long There are also many unique attractions here and lots of horse riding and quad bikes available the village offers both easy access to the city and quiet countryside living Distance from Prague: 35 minutes by bus from Nemocnine Motol stop What makes it great: Lots of unique attractions home to the Museum of the Czech Countryside (showing everyday rural life between the 17th and 20th centuries) Despite being tiny with just under 5000 residents Karlštejn is technically tiny –but because the town is home to the famous medieval castle it also attracts a lot of tourists and day-trippers from Prague there are plenty of dining options in town Distance from Prague: 40 minutes by commuter train from Prague central station What makes it great: At just over half an hour away from Prague Karlštejn makes for a great commuter town but also a great location if you’re into hiking you can hike all the way into Beroun if you follow the trails behind the castle Karlštejn is a great place to live if you like historical properties –and property prices Masarykovo náměstí Říčany photo via Wikipedia Every year, the research firm Obce v datech in cooperation with consultancy Deloitte evaluates the quality of life in towns and cities around the country. They look at a city’s “health and environment, material security and education, and relationships and services.” And for two years in a row, the town of Říčany has come out on top Distance from Prague: 40 minutes by train from Praha Hlavni Nadrazi What makes it great: Aside from its position as the best place to live in the country Říčany enjoys a great location just 20 km south of Prague surrounded by wooded countryside and on the train line to Benešov Dolní Břežany sits right against the southern border of Prague a small village surrounded by open fields where deer and wild pigs roam Distance from Prague: 20 minutes by local bus from Kačerov metro stop Bus service is somewhat limited on weekends What makes it great: Once an area of mostly weekend cottages Dolní Břežany has grown into an extension of residential Prague and several small ponds make the village feel a world away from the city and offer plenty of clean living space the town of Nymburk has an important railway and industrial history Distance from Prague: Just under one hour away from Prague What makes it great: Nymburk is still a bit of a hidden gem which means property prices have not grown as quickly or as much as in other towns Vysoký Újezd offers family-friendly living with easy access to outdoor activities The village lies between Český kras and Křivoklátsko two large protected landscape areas perfect for hiking Distance from Prague: 30 minutes from Prague Zličín bus stop or an easy 20-minute drive from the city What makes it great: Unhošť has many new built-up areas offering low-energy houses with gardens Since the area is still largely off the radar for many expats visitors can try the golf resort Albatross or visit castle Vysoký Újezd To search for your dream property in Prague visit our new-and-improved real estate server It looks like a combination of American football grabbing…all with little to no protection is one way to describe rugby Last summer´s Rugby World Cup played in France saw unexpected South Africa hoist the cup and led to a surge of interest in the sport league” discussion here – but the Rugby League World Cup is this year in Australia For newbies to the sport here´s a quick explanation of “union vs. league” kindly provided by Andrew Fairhurst. He´s the development officer for the Czech Rugby League (www.czechrugbyleague.com.) He says until 1895 there was only one “rugby” and basically class lines divided the sport Players in the northern part of England couldn´t afford to take a day off work to play (Sunday was reserved for God) while in the richer south it wasn´t a problem In order to keep the game alive in the north clubs offered to pay their players so they could afford to take a day off work This was unholy and shocking to clubs in the south – hence the spilt The northern clubs became professional and formed Rugby League while the southern clubs remained amateur with their Rugby Union The two bodies continued to develop and have their own rules and governing heads The migration of English folks to Australia means League is more popular down under Rugby Union finally became officially professional in 1995 Fairhurst also recommends the European Nations Cup u18 tournament being held here September 1-6; games will be played in Beroun The Czech Republic does have a national team (www.rugbyunion.cz,) a member of the International Rugby Board (www.irb.com) and ranked 35th out of 95 unions head to Romania this June when the IRB Nations Cup will be played in Bucharest but you can see a round robin of games on June 11 A recent posting announced the beginning of kid´s rugby practices at the International School of Prague Other generic rugby sites for worldwide information include www.scrum.com; www.fira-aer-rugby.com and of course, the biggies: www.irb.com, www.nrl.com or www.rleague.com