Dancing house – Ginger & Fred

YES! There is such a place called Dancing House! The Dancing House is an unmissable and magnificent building that has become an unmistakable part of Prague. The building got its name from towers, which resemble dancers Ginger Rogers and Fred Astair. The dancing house is right on the bank of the Vltava river and is the architectural place to see. If you like unusual places or not boring square or rectangle buildings, you should carve a time to see them while visiting Prague.

Time before “Dancing House”

On Valentine’s day, 1945, Prague became the target of Allied bombing at the end of the war.

According to historians, over 60 American bombers broke away from the union due to bad weather and a navigational error. In the belief that they were attacking Dresden, they were destroying Prague. Between February 13 and 14, Dresden was the main target of Allied troops.

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How long it took to start the build?

Nearly thirty years! It took many years to clear this area for one reason or another. The final removal of the wreckage happened in 1960. Then it took another sixteen years for the former regime to decide what to build here.

This building was considered a very modern building in the early 1900s. The neighboring plot was co-owned by the family of Václav Havel, who spent most of his life there. Vaclav Havel’s Grandfather built The House of 2000 in 1904, which is the building rings next to Dancing House with a globe on top. The little globe on top of the building was a bit of an architectural avant-garde in the years 1904-1905.

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How was the idea of Dancing House born?

Early in 1986, during the Communist era, Vlado Milunić, a respected architect in the Czechoslovak land, expressed an idea for a project to his friend and neighbor, at that time little-known dissident Václav Havel.

Vlado then created a sketch of ‘an angular building.’ And then the ‘Dancing’ shape was conceived.

A few years later, during the Velvet Revolution, Vaclav Havel became a popular leader and was elected president of Czechoslovakia. Thanks to his authority, the idea to develop the site grew. Vaclav Havel eventually decided to have Vlado Milunić survey the site. He had hoped for this place to become a cultural center.

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Plans are changing and so does an Architect…

The Dutch Bank, wanting a commercial space, offered to sponsor this project, and the idea to build a cultural center was dropped. Architect Vlado Milunić then approached French Architect Jean Nouvel to partner with the design. Jean Nouvel turned down the idea.

Vlado Milunić approached an American Architect Frank Owen Gehry who accepted the invitation and created this architectural marvel. Backed by the rich finances of the bank, the building funding was almost unlimited!

A bit about the construction

“The dancer” Fred Astair is represented by a stone tower and his partner Ginger Rogers by a glass tower. At the top of the tower, which symbolizes the dancer, is a dome with metal tubes covered with a stainless steel mesh, wrapped in imaginary hair. This dome is called “Medusa” for its shape. The house reaches over the street line onto the pavement.

The Dancing House danced to its opening in 1996 and the same year won the prestigious award of the American magazine Time in the category of design of the year.

Dancing House also made a list of beautiful buildings around the world and placed as the 9th most beautiful building in the world in 2021

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From office space to a Hotel

The entire four floors have transformed from the original office space to luxury hotel rooms in 2016. Every room has a spectacular view of Prague and the Vltava river. The hotel also has apartments available in each of the towers.

A beautiful restaurant is at the top level and a gallery with a viewing terrace, where you can admire Prague’s panorama with a circular view of 360 degrees.

Every level has a unique floor plan due to the asymmetric shape of the building.

Opening Hours, Tickets & Entrance Fee for galery

There is, of course, no entrance fee to the building itself, and the building is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The terrace with its amazing view is accessible via the Glass Bar.

• Gallery is open every day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the entrance fee is 190 CZK.
• Restaurant is open everyday from 11 a.m. to midnight.
• Glass Bar is open everyday from 10 a.m. to midnight.

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Where can you find Dancing House?

Full address is Jiráskovo náměstí 1981/6, 12000 Prague 2. You can get there by tram; the “Jiráskovo náměstí” station is right next to the building. If you prefer the metro, you can walk just a bit from the “Karlovo Namesti” station.

There are more options for trams. The tram, which stops next to Dancing House, is number 17. You also can use tram stop “Palackého náměstí” at the other end of a block. The numbers of trams you can use are 2,3,7,17 and 21.

If you prefer underground transportation “metro,” use the yellow line “metro B.” The station has two exits, one is called “Palackého náměstí” right next to a tram station. The other exit is “Karlovo náměstí” which is not far at all. Just a different corner of the block. The underground station is called “Karlovo náměstí.”

Was Dancing House always welcome among Prague people?

Nowadays, the Dancing House is considered one of Prague’s most valuable postmodern buildings and an important part of the Czech capital’s architecture. Still, there were times when it sparked a lot of controversies.

People were convinced that Dancing House would not fit into its surroundings since most of the buildings in its neighborhood are in the Art Nouveau style. They were worried about the unusual shape of the structure and the impression of the towers leaning.

However, the Dancing House proved itself to be a true architectural gem of Prague.

Easy day trips in Czech Republic & Prague

Are you planning a trip to the Czech Republic? Are you a bit overwhelmed about what place to visit and see? I know there is so much to see and not just in Prague! The whole country is full of beautiful Gems. Here are a couple of my blog posts to help you plan some day trips.

• Romantic day trip to Prague – On this Day Trip, I follow the previous post but move to the Old town square and areas around.
• The perfect day trip – Prague – A step by step plan, where you can see as much as possible on the side of river where Prague castle is. Beautiful day full of nice walks and views.
• Lovely day trip – Kutna Hora – Kutna Hora is a favorite place for tourists to visit. You should definitely put it on your bucket list.
• Sedlec Ossuary – Kutna Hora – Kutna Hora is a UNESCO city famous for sights such as St. Barbara Church or Sedlec Ossuary, alias Bone Church and much more.
• Celiac? Traveling to the Czech Republic? – When you are traveling to the Czech Republic, here are helpful tips on letting people you are Gluten-Free, where to eat, and shop.

and there you have it…. Enjoy the city and the whole country!!!!

Until next time…!

DOBROU CHUT!

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