Municipal House

Municipal House (Czech: Obecní dům) is a civic building that houses Smetana Hall, a celebrated concert venue, in Prague. It is located on Náměstí Republiky next to the Powder Gate in the center of the city.

Municipal House

History

The Royal Court palace used to be located on the site of the Municipal House. From 1383 until 1485 the King of Bohemia lived in the property. After 1485, it was abandoned.[1] It was demolished in the early 20th century. Construction of the current building started in 1905.[1] It opened in 1912. The building was designed by Osvald Polívka and Antonín Balšánek.[1]

The Municipal House was the location of the Czechoslovak declaration of independence.[1]

The roof of the building was the location for the INXS music video for their huge hit New Sensation.

Architecture and art

The building is of the Art Nouveau architecture style. The building exterior has allegorical art and stucco. There is a mosaic called Homage to Prague by Karel Špillar over the entrance.[1] On either side are allegorical sculpture groups representing The Degradation of the People and The Resurrection of the People by Ladislav Šaloun. Smetana Hall serves as a concert hall and ballroom. It has a glass dome.[1] It houses artwork by Alfons Mucha,[1] Jan Preisler and Max Švabinský.

Today

Today, the building is used as concert hall, ballroom, civic building, and includes cafes and restaurants. Many of the rooms in the building are closed to the public and open only for guided tours.[1]

  • Main entry
  • The Foyer
  • The restaurant to the right
  • The café to the left
  • Hall in the basement
  • The Smetana-hall
  • Exhibition hall
  • Fresko in the Primator-hall


Footnotes
  1. Turp, Craig (2012). DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Prague. London: DK Travel. ISBN 0756683998.

Sources
  • Peter Cannon-Brookes Czech Sculpture, 1800–1938
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