Městská knihovna v Praze Site of events

Městská knihovna v Praze is a Neo-Classicist building on Mariánska Square in Old Town. It was created in 1924-1929 according to the design of František Roith. It is the first dedicated library building in Czechoslovakia and since 1964 it has been protected as a cultural monument. It serves as a public library as well as an important cultural institution with premises for concerts, lectures and exhibitions.

The library started its activities on 1 July 1891 under the name Public Municipal Library of the Royal Capital of Prague. The first residence was in Zderazi in the premises of the former Saint-Clav Penitentiary. In 1894- 1903 it was located on the corner of the streets of Burned and Purkynova, then in 1903 it moved to the corner of Platnerian Street and Mariánska Square to a former empirical townhouse. Because of the rendering of part of Old Town, the institution had to look for a new place. The break occurred in 1923. The management of the Prague City Insurance Company decided to build and donate its own building to the city on the 10th anniversary of the creation of a separate Czechoslovakia. František Roith won the architectural competition. The construction took place from May 1925 and was ceremonially handed over to the city on October 25, 1928.

The four-wing building with the roofed courtyard contains a large hall with a book rental. It is located between Baroque Clementine and Art Nouveau New Prague City Hall. The basement and ground floor form a reinforced concrete skeleton, while the floors are mostly walled. The south facade on Mariánska Square is covered with travertine. It contains a five-axis porticus with six allegorical figures of Ladislav Kofránek. The decoration of the entrance is supplemented by the stained glass of Josef Sejpka and bars according to the design of Karel Štípl. Facades of side wings breaking windows, moldings and lizenas; The west wing to Valentina Street has 24 axes and the east to Žatecká Street 21 axes.

Interiors combine elements of Art Deca and Art Deca from the 1920s. Travertine, artificial stone and brass are used on the monumental staircase and in the foyer. The ceiling of the ornamental painting of František Kyla is decorated in the central hall. The vestibule is decorated by the Idiom column of 8,000 books by Mateo Creen, which thanks to mirrors creates the illusion of infinite space. The primary residence in art deco style, the decoration of which was František Kyla, Cyril Bouda and Helena John. The residence in the past was used, for example, by the first mayor of Prague, Karel Baxter.

The building is linked to many important events and personalities. There is a memorial plaque of art historian Vincence Kramáře; here was temporarily placed a gallery of the Society of Patriotic Friends of Arts. There was a collection of modern art at the National Gallery, while since 1992 it has been using the second floor of the Prague City Gallery. The building is also connected to modern puppeteery. In 1929 the International Puppet Union was established and Vojtěch Sucharda was the first director of the Art Scene of the Puppet Empire.

During the years various modifications were made, for example in 1936-1937, 1939, 1958 and 1963. In 1988- 1989, the court was covered. Overall reconstruction took place between 1996 and 1998. Today, Městská knihovna v Praze is the key cultural point of Old Town. It offers library services and a rich programme of exhibitions and concerts. It's a place where the history of architecture combines itself with the modern function of a public institution.