Kolben’s legacy: Prague’s Vysočany district celebrates 130 years of industrial history
130 years ago, the Kolben & Co. factory began its story in Vysočany, which became the industrial heart of Prague and a symbol of Czech electrical engineering.
Emil Kolben’s industrial legacy
Emil Kolben was a Czech engineer who worked in the United States alongside Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla in the late 19th century. There, he gained experience with the most advanced electrical engineering of his time. Upon returning to Prague, he decided to start his own business.
In 1896, he opened the Kolben & Co. factory in Vysočany. Within a few decades, the small workshop grew into one of the most significant industrial plants in Central Europe. The company manufactured electric motors, turbines, locomotives, and trams, and later became part of ČKD, one of the largest engineering companies in the Czech Republic. The famous red Tatra T3 tramcar was one of its iconic products.
Kolben was one of the most prominent industrialists of his time. His life was tragically cut short by World War II — due to his Jewish heritage, he was deported to Terezín, where he died in 1943.
Kolbenova Station: a tribute to Emil Kolben that became a gateway to a new neighbourhood
One of Prague’s metro stations was named after the industrialist as a tribute to his legacy. The station is located on the site where his factory once stood.
However, its opening was fraught with problems. When Prague unveiled a new section of the metro, Line B, in 1998, Kolbenova Station, still under construction, remained closed due to a lack of funding. It wasn’t until June 8, 2001, that it opened to the public. This year it celebrates its 25th anniversary.
From an industrial complex to a modern district
For decades, the original ČKD complex was one of the largest industrial centres in Czechoslovakia. After 1989, however, production gradually ceased, and the large area was neglected.
Today, Vysočany no longer resembles an abandoned industrial zone. In place of the former factory is a flourishing modern urban district featuring apartments, offices, campuses, and public spaces. Kolbenova Station has become a hub and stands as a reminder that this is where the story of one of the most important Czech entrepreneurs began.
