Dům uměleckého průmyslu Department store

Welcome to the heart of our metropolis, a place where history meets the constant movement of a modern city. You are standing in front of one of the most important examples of construction which defined Prague's face in the period between the two world wars. Look around you at the National Class. Feel the energy, the constant flow of people and vehicles that surround this space. Now, focus on the building in front of you. This object, known as Dům uměleckého průmyslu, stands out with its purity and clarity. Its shapes are not filled with ornaments, but instead they offer you strength through their lines and dimensions. The first impression that radiates from this building is the feeling of incredible stability associated with ease. It's just that special quality that you must be interested in right now.

To understand why this house is standing right here and why it looks like this, we need to go back to when our country was shaped as a modern state. The whole story started in a thousand nine hundred twenty-nine. That's when the Union of Czechoslovak Works acquired the land on which you are standing. The aim of this union was to create a dignified and modern residence for the flourishing of indigenous art and craft. The construction was not the work of one night. It was a process that required time and precise planning. The first large part of this main class, including the courtyards, was completed in the year one thousand nine trăm thirty-six. Two years later, in the year one thousand and nine trăm thirty-eight, another wing was completed, which stretches towards Charvat Street. This completed the whole form of this magnificent work, which was to serve as a centre for the latest art directions and artistic creation.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself and try to look at the details that are right in front of your eyes. Notice how the whole building is woven into the shape of an L. This shape is not random, but it is a brilliant way to use space effectively while creating an inner space for light. The entire object is on a very solid reinforced concrete skeleton. This skeleton is supported by eight major pillars that bear the full weight of this massive building. It is thanks to this interior construction that the building does not have to hide behind thick walls. Look at the glass façade. The vast surfaces of glass you see are typical of this sense of construction. Glass allows light to penetrate deep into the interior of the building and creates a constant dialogue between the outside world and the inner space.

If you had the opportunity to enter, you would encounter something quite extraordinary - the internal atrium. It's the heart of the whole house. And you know the most amazing thing about him? His roof can be opened. Imagine the beauty where the inner space suddenly connects to the open sky. In the past, glass blocks, which brought soft and scattered light into the space, illuminated this place, creating an atmosphere of calm in the middle of busy Prague. This whole object is very large and complex. It has a total of seven floors above the ground and three floors below the ground are added. On the top of the terrace you can follow the panorama of the city.

A trio of brilliant men, who believed in the power of modern thinking, were behind this successful work. Architects František Kavalír, Oldřich Starý and František Zelenka were able to combine technical maturity with pure aesthetics. This house was not just an empty shell, but a living organism. He served as a centre for modern art directions and was the seat of a major company Beautiful South. Ideas were born in these areas to influence the appearance of objects in our everyday life. Other names such as Karel Cink or Luděk Fabinger are closely associated with this place, who were involved in its importance and flowering.

Perhaps now you're interested in one thing that carries a certain mystery. Although this building is made of heavy iron concrete and stands on massive pillars, it acts as if it is almost intangible thanks to all the glass surfaces. It's a constant game between what's solid and hard and what's light and transparent. This balance is what makes this house so fascinating. It's like architecture is trying to deny the laws of matter and create a space that is as solid as a rock and light as air.

Today, this house serves a new purpose, but its spirit remains the same. After a long time, it was reopened to the public as a cultural space under the name DUP39. It is a place where history constantly meets new creation and where you can experience an atmosphere that is not found elsewhere in Prague. I suggest you continue your search and allow yourself to drift through this space. You may encounter an interesting exhibition or just stop and watch the light change during the day in this special place. Thank you for stopping by this monument. We wish you a beautiful and inspiring walk through the city.