Municipal House


Caption
View of Exterior
Related people
Antonín Balšánek (architect)
Oswald Polívka (architect)
Date
1903
Location
Europe->Czech Republic->Praha, Hlavní Město->Prague->Municipal House
Description
"The Municipal House, a national cultural landmark, is among the most significant Art Nouveau buildings in Prague. It is located in the very centre of Prague, directly neighbouring the Powder Gate.
The most significant Czech painters and sculptors of the time participated in the decoration of the Municipal House. That list included: Karel Novák, Jan Preisler, Mikol Ale, Max Švabinský, František Ženíšek, Ladislav Šaloun, Josef Maratka, Josef Václav Myslbek, Alphonse Mucha.
Since the very beginning, the Municipal House has been a multifunctional building. The halls and lounges are used to arrange conventions, conferences, concerts, balls and fashion shows. They are accessible to the general public only in the form of commented tours.
From an architectural perspective, the Municipal House is interesting due to its usage of the irregular triangular shape of the parcel it is built on, being arranged around the monumental space of Smetana Hall, stretching up from the first floor to the large glass-panelled dome. The architects achieved organic completeness and rhythmical proportions, which were significantly inspired by the Art Nouveau style, in a building essentially based in a historicizing style with baroque elements. This tendency is particularly apparent in the sumptuous decoration, especially in the stucco and metal work dominating the magnificent marquee over the main entrance. All of the marks of the new decorative style are evident in the interior of the grand staircases and also other areas with their supple vegetable forms." -- Reference Keywords: Czech Republic, Obecni Dum, views.
Style/Period
1910s (1910 - 1919)
Art Nouveau