Architecture in Prague

After 1945

Postwar Architecture

Jaroslav Fragner– Gočár´s student– Functionalism in 1930´s– After war reconstruction of

monuments – Betlem Chapel (Jan Hus), Carolinum (Charles University)

Betlem Chapel

Carolinum

Postwar ArchitectureRecontruction after the bombing by Allies

- Emauz Monastery Church, New Town, 1950´s

- Dancing House, New Town, 1990´s, Vlado Milunić, Frank Gehry

Emauz Monastery Church, New Town

Socialist RealismHotel

International, 1952-4, Stalin was expected

to visit

Stalin Monument, Letná, 1955;

zbourán 1962

• Return to „classical values“• Monumentalising historism• The aim of architecture was

to create a system of architectural forms as political-ideological signs understandable to the working people and „make him proud of his victories and work successes“.

Socialist Realism

Hotel Jalta• 1958• Fallout shelter and

underground hospital for the prominent politicians

• Statues on the terasse – A couple of agricultors with a

jug of fresh milk, agricultors huging, agricultors with a sheaf of grain

„Brussels Style“

Expo 58• Great success of the

Czecoslovak pavillon• Laterna Magika first presented

here – Alfréd Radok, Miloš Forman– Acting on the stage and on the

screen at the same time

• Bright colours, inventive use of materials

• Reaction on the socialist realism

Pavilon, destroyed

Restaurant, nowadays at Letná

park

„Brussels Style“Tramway Tatra T3, the most successful model produced since 1960´s Podolí Swimming Pool, Prague 4

Karel Prager• Federal Assembly, 1966-73

– Used a building from the 1930´s– Use of a bridge girder– Large suspended glass wall

• New scene, National Theatre (Laterna Magika)

• Skewed shape lined with more than four thousand blown glass bricks with diverse profilation – form together a huge relief. Unique use of glass.

• Strict elegance, non-decorativeness, comfort

Federal Assembly

New Scene

Architecture of the 1970´sUnderground, since 1974- Nusle Bridge

- Stability threatened by heavy soviet trains

- Anděl- Reliefs with socialist topics

Colonies of prefabricated houses- 1950´s, 1960´s Prosek,

Petřiny - 1970´s, 1980´s, Southern

and South-Western Town

Kotva Shopping Mall

1970-5, Hexagons interconected by escalators

Architecture of the 1970´s

Postmodern Architecture• ČKD, Můstek

– Extensive use of concrete

1980´s

Žižkov TV Tower• 1985-1992• Controversial

destruction of a part of a Jewish cemetery...

• David Černý, Babies,2000

inspiration

Richard Rogers, London, Lloyds

Rogers, Centre Pompidou, Paris

1990´s

Dancing House

• Nationale Niederlanden, 1996

• Ginger Rogers and Fred Astair (dancing couple)

• Vlado Milunič and Frank Gehry (architects)

• From the iniciative of Václava Havel, former Czech president

Vlado Milunić

Hvězda Tenament Houses (Prague 6) – new model of housing colonies