On March 11th, 2008 one hundred years will have passed since the death of Josef Hlavka, one of the most successful entrepreneurs of the 19th century in former Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was a prominent architect and the most distinguished patron of Czech science and the arts and founder and first president of Czech Academy of Science and the Arts, the predecessor of today´s Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. The 100th anniversary of the death of Josef Hlávka has been cited by UNESCO as a World Cultural Anniversary. and Josef Pechar.
In Vienna, Josef Hlávka is mainly remembered as one of the most successful architects and builders of the 1860s. In a period of ten years from the 1860 to the 1870, he designed and built almost 150 buildings. One of the most significant achievements is the Vienna Opera which he built at the request of Emperor Franz Joseph I during the period of 1863-1869. The Emperor was very pleased with it and presented him with a special prize. and Josef Pechar, Marina Hužvárová.