From Flour to Masterpiece – A Celebration of Two Years of Innovation at Pardubice’s Automatic Mills

The big celebration for the second anniversary of Automatic Mills

It’s been two successful years since the reopening of Automatic Mills in Pardubice. Once a mill that produced the finest flour for a century, it has now transformed into a lively cultural hub in the new city center. The project, led by the Smetana couple, who received a lot of keys from the mills back in 2015, now includes the regional Gočár’s gallery, the city’s contemporary art gallery Gampa, the educational lab Sphere, and the Pardubice Information Centre. The mills are once again bustling with activity.

The anniversary will be celebrated with a festive event called “GO! Automatic Mills 2025 – 2 years together”, taking place on September 26-27, 2025. This event will have activities for young people, families, and anyone interested in architecture, art, and science. Attendees can enjoy guided tours, exhibitions, workshops, music, and an open rooftop bar.

On Friday, September 26, starting at 3 PM, the program will begin with events aimed at younger visitors, featuring DJ sets from 4 PM to 9 PM. In addition, there will be creative workshops for kids happening on both days.

On Saturday, September 27, the full day program will run from 10 AM to 9 PM, showcasing musical performances by Jackob Senec, KJ SAX, the band TWO4U, and DJ sets. There will also be pop-up stalls and food trucks available.

The celebration will also feature activities by various institutions on-site: the Automatic Mills Foundation will provide guided tours on Saturday, with online booking options available. Meanwhile, Gampa is inviting everyone to its current exhibition titled Cecoslovacchia. The Gočár Gallery will offer a special workshop for attendees of all ages, free of charge, on Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM where flour will be turned into artistic materials. The Pardubice Tourist Information Centre will engage children with worksheets and gingerbread activities, and they will also sell themed souvenirs, while Sphere will mark the anniversary with scientific workshops and guided tours.

Notable Awards

The transformation of Automatic Mills, guided by architect and site owner Lukáš Smetana, has captured the interest of visitors and professionals alike. The complex has received several prestigious awards, such as the Engineering Chamber Award, the Best of Reality 2023 award, and honors for Outstanding Achievement in Architecture at the Czech Architecture Awards. In January, the complex was recognized with the Centre for Regional Development Award as part of the Czech Architecture Prize program. In August, the architectural project involving Gampa and Sphere achieved success in the international Design Educates Awards 2025 where it earned a bronze medal. The most recent honor is a special recognition received during the 16th annual national traveling exhibition My homeland through the paths of change – stories of home, awarded on September 12, 2025, at a ceremony held in the historic Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic.

Artwork by David Černý

One notable addition enriching the Automatic Mills during its first operational year was a technological artwork by famed Czech artist David Černý. His piece, Boat, is a stunning installation that defies physics with its unique motion, captivating visitors. This creative addition emphasizes the cultural and technical significance of the venue, which has become a hub for art, architecture, and technology.

Future Plans

Looking ahead, there are major developments planned for the Automatic Mills site. A total of five uniquely designed buildings will be constructed, all made of brick. Each building will feature commercial spaces on the ground floor, enhancing the area with restaurants, cafés, bakeries, small shops, and services.
The second phase of construction will introduce the Stables building, a two-story structure with a partial basement. This building will host a restaurant centrally located within the inner area. Another building, also partially underground, will rise five floors above ground, featuring a bakery on the ground floor, and three apartments above it. The structure tentatively named Flowers will have three floors and will include commercial spaces and apartments. One building, referred to as Baba and the Virgin, will include commercial spaces, offices, and apartments. This basement-level building will reach six stories, providing a buffer between the busy plaza and an adjacent apartment building. The office spaces will help shield the apartment residents from traffic noise from the plaza. There are also plans for a building comprising three identical “towers,” each with four floors, all connected by a ground-level space that will house a parking area serving both residents and visitors to the entire complex.