Hanavský pavilon Building

Hanavský pavilon is a distinctive Neo-Baroque building from 1891, located in the Letenské orchards in Prague 7. The building combines cast iron construction with raked masonry and serves as a sightseeing restaurant. It is an important technical monument and dominant of the Prague panorama when viewed by Vltava.

The construction was created as a representative pavilion of Komárovský ironworks for the Jubilee Earth Exhibition in 1891. The name is derived from the owner of the hardware factory, Prince Wilhelm Hanavski. The pavilion dates back to the end of the 19th century, when industrial expansion and the era of historism culminated in the Czech countries, for which it was typical to combine older styles with modern technical possibilities of cast iron.

The architectural design was developed by Otto Haiser and Josef Hercík, decorative details designed by artist Zdeněk Emanuel Fiala. The construction of the building is cast iron, the foundations are stone and brick, the circumferential wall is paved with concrete and richly glazed. The equipment includes granite stairs and concrete terrace. Although it is an important technical monument, it is not the oldest cast iron construction in Prague; This primacy belongs to the hall and platform of the Masaryk railway station from 1862.

Originally, the pavilion was the property of Komárovský ironworks, but after the exhibition the Prince Hanavský donated it to the city of Prague. Subsequently, the object was dismantled and moved to its current location in Letenské orchards. The original entry pair of pylons with statues Antonín Procházky and František Hergesel, as well as the lunette bed with the floral inscription SALVE, were not restored.

In the course of the 20th century, the pavilion underwent two challenging reconstructions in 1967 and 1987. These interventions included restoration of individual parts and replacement of damaged elements. However, the second reconstruction deviated from the original state in some details. The shale roofing was removed, the abrasion of rounded transverse window frames and the replacement of original cast iron candelabra for large-scale types. A modern grate was also installed in front of the basement staircase.

Currently, the pavilion works as a sightseeing restaurant. Thanks to its location in the vicinity of Kramářová Villa and its location in Letenské orchards, it offers panoramic views of Prague. The building remains a valuable proof of technical maturity and aesthetic sensations of the end of the 19th century and the visit to this place allows direct contact with the history of Prague's exhibition.