I recently came across issues of Architektura ČSR from 1946 and Architekt from 1949 that somehow ended up in my home library. I imagined my grandchildren flipping through ERA21 in eighty years with the same fascination, trying to understand how we saw architecture and what topics were considered important. An architecture magazine is a lasting record. As Rostislav Koryčánek—founding editor of ERA21, originally focused on ecological building (ERA21 = Ecology, Realization, Architecture for the 21st Century)—once said: “Architecture is incredibly fragile, and what we write about it is incredibly fleeting. In that sense, digital media are at a disadvantage. ERA21 maps the terrain of architecture and related themes—and preserves it for the future.”

Each day, the consequences of Donald J. Trump’s re-election as President of the United States become more evident—not only for Americans but also for people around the interconnected world. Although the disruptive effects of the economic and foreign policies of his administration receive constant attention, their equally disruptive impact on architecture in the US obtains less notice.

Designed by architect Michal Brix and completed in 1991, the Křižík Pavilions were originally intended for the General Czechoslovak Exhibition. More than thirty years later, they remain an important part of the Prague Exhibition Grounds. After years of intensive use, the pavilions underwent a large-scale revitalization that brought technical modernizations and new multifunctional possibilities. In addition to interior improvements—which feature a predominantly industrial aesthetic—the pavilions now include green roofs that contribute to sustainability and improve the urban microclimate. The result is a space for exhibitions, relaxation, and social life.

When ERA21 launched in 2001, it brought with it a distinctive graphic concept. After a redesign of the logo and visual identity following its second year, it became an unwritten rule that the magazine would avoid showing buildings on its covers. The aim was to avoid clichés and highlight that architecture is about more than just construction. This article surveys the design evolution that has defined ERA21’s visual identity: from the early years under Tomáš Šťovíček, through the broadened thematic range and graphic layout by pixl-e studio, to the 2010 graphic overhaul by the Dostálková sisters, who introduced cover portraits of figures in the field. The layout by Linda Dostálková remains in use today, with some updates. Since then, two more designers have shaped the covers: Martin Groch (2014–2017) and Josef Čevora of Mixage studio, whose inventive concepts have defined the magazine's look since 2018.

Trade journals have always played a critical role in the production and reflection of architectural work. For Czech architectural publications, 1989 marked the beginning of turbulent times. ERA21 did not emerge in a media vacuum. And in the years that followed, the conditions for architectural journalism were far from ideal. Financial, technological, and intellectual pressures have all left their mark. This article recaps the evolution of Czech architecture magazines over the past 25 years—from the fall of state socialism to the present—and revisits moments from recent history that have already begun to fade.

What’s it like to lead an editorial team and oversee the content strategy of an architecture magazine? The editors-in-chief of ERA21 interview their predecessors to find out.

We asked three former editors of ERA21 to share their memories, reflect on the aspects of the job they carried forward into other roles, and offer their perspective on the potential of print publishing in today’s architectural world.

An anniversary is a chance to reflect: What themes has the magazine covered over the years? What issues resonated with readers? Which back issues remain relevant today? We asked members of our editorial board to look back at the past twenty-five years and consider which topics stood out and how they may have shifted their thinking—as professionals, as citizens, or as individuals.

A quarter century is a long time in architecture. Some buildings have taken nearly that long to complete (take the “Black Cube” in Ostrava, designed by Kuba & Pilař in 2004). But the field has certainly evolved. The First Czechoslovak Republic, the golden age of Czech Functionalism, lasted even fewer years. Since ERA21 published its first issue twenty-five years ago, a generational shift has taken place. Here we present a selection of Czech buildings published in the magazine—one for each year. We won’t explain our choices; instead, we invite you to judge for yourself how Czech architecture has developed and what editorial priorities have emerged along the way.

What transformations will the architectural profession undergo in the future? We asked the youngest generation of architects what they believe the essence of their work will be over the next twenty-five years, and how architecture should be presented. We also asked what a magazine for the next quarter century should look like. Their answers form a rich collage of views and opinions—just as diverse as the profession itself will likely become. These voices matter: they will help define the next era of architecture.