Although Tram for Prague began as my bachelor’s thesis, it was a fully developed project, carefully considered from the chassis to the roof. I had the opportunity to bring the 1:25 scale model through to physical realization at the University of Derby.
I chose the topic of a modern tram for Prague for deeply personal reasons, not because it was assigned, but because it genuinely mattered to me. I was born and raised in Prague, and trams are part of my everyday life. I hear them, I see them, I live alongside them. I have a strong emotional connection to the iconic Tatra T3 vehicles; to me, they are an essential symbol of the city’s identity. When I first encountered the new 14T trams, I felt genuinely disappointed. I sensed a lack of sensitivity to Prague’s character and insufficient respect for the tradition embodied in its tram system. Moreover, technical shortcomings, such as fixed bogies causing accelerated track wear, further highlighted the problem. Rather than simply criticizing, I decided to take responsibility and offer my own answer to what a modern Prague tram could be. Not just a critique, but a proposal. The concept set out to clearly define the current challenges of Prague’s tram transport system while presenting a design that respects the city’s aesthetics, passenger needs, and contemporary technological possibilities. The project was grounded in extensive research conducted with users as well as experts in design, engineering, and manufacturing technologies.
The result is a tram that merges modern materials and innovative thinking with the traditional visual language of Prague’s historic vehicles, balancing respect for heritage with the courage to move forward, without unnecessary compromise.
Today, the model is part of the permanent collection of the National Technical Museum.
