New City Hall (Prague)

New City Hall
Nova radnice

New City Hall
General information
Architectural style Art Nouveau
Location Mariánské náměstí
Address Slovenská 1566/2
Town or city Prague 1
Country Czech Republic
Coordinates 50°04′42″N 14°25′16″E / 50.0782°N 14.4211°E / 50.0782; 14.4211Coordinates: 50°04′42″N 14°25′16″E / 50.0782°N 14.4211°E / 50.0782; 14.4211
Construction started 1908
Completed 1911
Design and construction
Architect Osvald Polívka

Prague New City Hall is located on the east side of Mariánské náměstí (Virgin Mary Square) in the center of the Old Town (Prague 1) across from the Clementinum building complex. Since 1945 it is a seat of Prague City Hall and the mayor of the City of Prague. The building contains formal residences for the mayor and other city officials.

History

The hall stands in Virgin Mary Square.[1] This was the site of a Romanesque church until 1798. In 1904 the city council announced a competition to design a new city hall. The architect Osvald Polívka was announced as the winner in 1906.[2] The new city hall was constructed in 1908 – 1911 based on Polívka's Art Nouveau plans.[3] There were a few changes during the construction when it was realised that the floor area needed to be increased and the King also had a view.[2]

Description

Schematic of a Paternoster lift

The building is decorated by sculptures and reliefs by Stanislav Sucharda, Josef Mařatka and Ladislav Šaloun. Saloun's sculptures are on the corners of the building,[4] he is the same local sculptor who created the city's iconic Jan Hus Memorial.[1]

The building, which was intended as a tax and financial office, was equipped with paternoster lifts, which were very modern at the time.[2] There were two lifts designed by John Prokopec which included safety features that allowed the lifts to operate at higher speeds with each of the twelve carriages having room for two people.[2] The core of the building was a hall on the first floor with chandeliers and a transparent roof by Franta Anýž. Since the 1970s there has been only one paternoster lift, which dates from that decade. This lift still covers the four floors but it now has thirteen carriages.[2]

On the wall of the main staircase leading to the assembly hall, there is a memorial plaque for Milada Horáková by sculptor Jaroslava Lukešová. Horáková was a politician in the city. She had opposed both the Nazis and the communists. The latter executed her after a show trial in 1952.[5]

The New City Hall is a residency for the local government.[3] Apart from the mayor of the City of Prague, the members of Prague City Council and some of the departments also have their meetings there.[2]

Images

References

  1. 1 2 Neil Wilson; Mark Baker (2010). Prague. Lonely Planet. pp. 106–. ISBN 978-1-74179-668-1.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 New Town Hall – the main building of City Hall. m. Prague, paternoster.archii.cz (in Czech), Retrieved 20 October 2015
  3. 1 2 New City Hall, Prague.eu, Retrieved 20 October 2015
  4. ↑ New Town Hall, AtlasCeska, Retrieved 20 October 2015
  5. ↑ Honoring Czech Heroine Milada Horakova, Natalile Pokorna, NTD.tv, 3 November 2003, Retrieved 20 October 2015

Literature

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