#Department store #Prague (Praha) #1934
Svaz československého díla SČSD (Czechoslovakian Werkbund)
Národní třída 38/36
110 00
Prague (Praha),
Czechia
Public transport: Národní třída / Můstek
Access: Public building, free entry during working hours
Today's use: Shops or abandoned
Description
The reinforced concrete and steel skeleton supports the main facade, which consists almost entirely of windows and glass. The windows on the first floor are sliding windows. The windows on the upper floors are also not supplied with sills, making the facade to appear very light. It is typically for Prague houses of this period, that the top floor is slightly set back, offering space for a terrace. The main facade and parts of the construction are an architectural concept that comes very close to Le Corbusier's idea of the Five Points of Modern Architecture. Although the point of using the roof terrace was not implemented, this use would be conceivable due to the flat roof.
The building is only three storeys high at the rear, which is not visible. Inside, at the same place, is situated an atrium (inner courtyard) with a skylight. The entire building is built on an L-shaped ground plan. A second entrance was located at Charvátova Street 10, creating a passage inside of the entire building.
On this website are some historical pictures and pictures from 2017, as parts of the building were used as a book shop and creative hotspot.
Description
The reinforced concrete and steel skeleton supports the main facade, which consists almost entirely of windows and glass. The windows on the first floor are sliding windows. The windows on the upper floors are also not supplied with sills, making the facade to appear very light. It is typically for Prague houses of this period, that the top floor is slightly set back, offering space for a terrace. The main facade and parts of the construction are an architectural concept that comes very close to Le Corbusier's idea of the Five Points of Modern Architecture. Although the point of using the roof terrace was not implemented, this use would be conceivable due to the flat roof.
The building is only three storeys high at the rear, which is not visible. Inside, at the same place, is situated an atrium (inner courtyard) with a skylight. The entire building is built on an L-shaped ground plan. A second entrance was located at Charvátova Street 10, creating a passage inside of the entire building.
On this website are some historical pictures and pictures from 2017, as parts of the building were used as a book shop and creative hotspot.
History
DUP is stands for Dům uměleckého průmyslu (House of Art Industry), which was commissioned by the Czechoslovak Werkbund. The architect Starý was since 1935 president of the Czechoslovakian Werkbund, who created a kind of calling card for the Werkbund with this building. Its location on one of Prague's main shopping streets enabled the Werkbund to present its goods to the public and to stage with this building a type of a big-city department store in the spirit of functionalist architecture.After the communist takeover in 1948, the Werkbund became part of the head-office of folk art production, which used the building until 1989. In the following years were sequences of several sales and disputes. The ground floor is mostly used as retail space, the upper floors are all abandoned. Unfortunately the uniqueness of the interior with its passage, atrium and glass roof cannot make any impacts to visitors at all and is in a very poor condition.
History
DUP is stands for Dům uměleckého průmyslu (House of Art Industry), which was commissioned by the Czechoslovak Werkbund. The architect Starý was since 1935 president of the Czechoslovakian Werkbund, who created a kind of calling card for the Werkbund with this building. Its location on one of Prague's main shopping streets enabled the Werkbund to present its goods to the public and to stage with this building a type of a big-city department store in the spirit of functionalist architecture.After the communist takeover in 1948, the Werkbund became part of the head-office of folk art production, which used the building until 1989. In the following years were sequences of several sales and disputes. The ground floor is mostly used as retail space, the upper floors are all abandoned. Unfortunately the uniqueness of the interior with its passage, atrium and glass roof cannot make any impacts to visitors at all and is in a very poor condition.
Sources
