The compact, organic built up area of the historical town centre in Litomyšl does not leave much scope for the construction of new detached buildings; the only pervading modern architectonic interventions are reconstructions or annexes. However, one modern solitary building that was more fortunate was that of the Pakosta Gallery. It was built in one of the most significant historical localities on Mariánská Street which is believed to have been the old medieval centre through which the Trstěnická trade route passed.
In order for a new building to enrich its historical surroundings, whilst not attracting too much attention to itself, it is necessary to give it suitable proportions and scale. Entrusting the town's chief architect, Zdeňka Vydrová, with the building's design was a sensible choice, as she herself has addressed the issue of the coexistence of modern architecture with historical heritage, and set the “rules compelling responsibility towards the town, the location of a building and its environment”. Moreover, she herself has intimate knowledge of “her” town and its urban and architectonic qualities.
According to Zdeňka Vydrová, new buildings (and reconstructions) whilst possessing a “face of their own”, but must also, “reflect the environment in which they are located”. The gallery fulfils the first ruling with its succinct form, shed roof, varied window size and facade combining smooth rendering with weatherboard cladding. The second rule is fulfilled in the building's petite dimensions, in its narrow, north-south orientated plot – a traditional medieval feature, and in its harmonic proportions, well resolved by Zdeňka Vydrová and fitting well into the complex urban layout of the surrounding buildings of varying size and merit. This layout includes the “monumental” historical buildings of the chateau hill, an awkward transformer station and, conversely, empty vacant plots – the modest gardens north of the gallery.
The ground floor of this two-storey building of modest dimensions contains rentable space with sanitary facilities (e.g. for the investor's gallery or studio) and a flat whose main living room is situated on the first floor.
