6. Dancing House (Tančící dům)

Dancing House was, is, and probably for still some time will be one of the controversial works of modern architecture in Prague. This type of architecture emerged in the nineties.

Some admire the building and speak of it as perhaps the only building in Prague, at this time, which radiates its own spirit; others talk about the blatant hacking of the historic waterfront. Opinions widely differ. It is this disagreement of opinion that points to its uniqueness, which will be highly valued by future generations. Just as it is in the nearby building Manes, which in its completion and adoption was exposed to similarly contrasting opinions.

The facts speaking for the exceptional value of the Dancing House are significant: Its architectural awards.

The most significant prize was in 1997, when the house was awarded the American Time magazine award in the category of Design in 1996.

Very significant is the fact that the Czech National Bank has produced a series of commemorative coins under the name: Ten Centuries of Architecture, including dancing house

Dancing House also already become a popular place for tourists.

From 1992 to 1996 the building in the space where the Dancing House was built was empty by then due to bombing during World War II. Architects for a long time did not know what to build there. Vlado Milunić (of Croatian origin) was chosen as the main architect in the selection process and heinvited the famous American architect Frank O. Gehry, and the British architect of Czech origin, Eva Jiricna.

This office building of reinforced concrete, which grew out of cooperation between the aforementioned architects, is nine floors with two floors underground. It is also possible to visit the restaurant on the top floor.

The title given to the building, „Dancing House,“ is because of its two towers, which symbolize the two great dancers of the thirties and forties of the last century, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The glass tower dancer, is poised slightly towards Jirásek square (Jiráskovo náměstí) and the stone dancer is turned towards the waterfront. The tower’s dome structure of metal mesh tubes represents the hair.