alfredlexx60 (Soldat Chvéïk de retour)
Praha, České republiky (the art of historical buildings of Prague), Na Poříčí (Palác Archa/Archa Palace)
Address: Na Poříčí 24, Praha 1
Year: 1921–1923; 1937–1938; 1991–1994 (reconstructed)
Architects: Josef Gočár; František Marek; Vojtěch Obadálek
Archa palace is composed of two interconnected buildings built during the course of the 20th century. The first building, known as Legiobanka, was built for the Czechoslovak Legions Bank in 1921–1923. It was designed by Josef Gočár in the so-called National style (also called Rondocubism), which can be considered the local variant of the international art deco movement. The architect collaborated with sculptors Otto Gutfreund and Jan Štursa, while the interior decoration was partially executed by the painter František Kysela. There used to be a concert hall and later a theater in the basement.
The bank was enlarged in 1937–1938 by another building designed by Gočár’s protégé, František Marek, in the Functionalist style. The addition respects the aesthetic weight disposition of Gočár’s building and creates a harmonious whole of two different architectural approaches. The second building is known as Zlatý klas (The Golden Stalk) on account of the decoration on the second floor in the form of forged ears of grain made by Josef Kaplický. It also houses a shopping arcade where there used to be a cafe and fast-food restaurant called automat U Rozvařilů.
In 1990, after the revolution, both buildings were bought by ČSOB bank and reconstructed. The theater was modernized and became Theater Archa, from which the name of the whole building is now derived.
After the last reconstruction in 2008–2009, a 26,000 m2 multipurpose office space was created inside the buildings and is currently under the administration of CPI Property Group.
Praha, České republiky (the art of historical buildings of Prague), Na Poříčí (Palác Archa/Archa Palace)
Address: Na Poříčí 24, Praha 1
Year: 1921–1923; 1937–1938; 1991–1994 (reconstructed)
Architects: Josef Gočár; František Marek; Vojtěch Obadálek
Archa palace is composed of two interconnected buildings built during the course of the 20th century. The first building, known as Legiobanka, was built for the Czechoslovak Legions Bank in 1921–1923. It was designed by Josef Gočár in the so-called National style (also called Rondocubism), which can be considered the local variant of the international art deco movement. The architect collaborated with sculptors Otto Gutfreund and Jan Štursa, while the interior decoration was partially executed by the painter František Kysela. There used to be a concert hall and later a theater in the basement.
The bank was enlarged in 1937–1938 by another building designed by Gočár’s protégé, František Marek, in the Functionalist style. The addition respects the aesthetic weight disposition of Gočár’s building and creates a harmonious whole of two different architectural approaches. The second building is known as Zlatý klas (The Golden Stalk) on account of the decoration on the second floor in the form of forged ears of grain made by Josef Kaplický. It also houses a shopping arcade where there used to be a cafe and fast-food restaurant called automat U Rozvařilů.
In 1990, after the revolution, both buildings were bought by ČSOB bank and reconstructed. The theater was modernized and became Theater Archa, from which the name of the whole building is now derived.
After the last reconstruction in 2008–2009, a 26,000 m2 multipurpose office space was created inside the buildings and is currently under the administration of CPI Property Group.