Obchodní dům Olympic Commercial building

Welcome to the heart of Prague in New Town. You are standing in front of a building that is a real symbol of courage, modernity and belief in progress. Look before you at this formidable business and rental house, which bears the name Olympic. At first glance, you may be interested in its purity, its straight lines, and the feeling of lightness that radiates from the building, even though it's a massive building. It is a place where business life meets culture and where in every detail there is a story about how the perception of beauty and utility in the early twentieth century changed.

Let us now stop a little bit at how this construction was created and at what time it happened. Imagine Prague over a century ago. The city was developing rapidly, and old houses were no longer enough for the needs of modern citizenship. That is why in the year one thousand nine hundred twenty-six decided to build this complex. The project was taken by the architect Jaromír Krejcar who wanted to create something completely new. The construction took a short time and the building was completed in the year one thousand nine hundred twenty eight. It was a time of great optimism when architects tried to meet the new needs of the time. The goal was not just to build a house with apartments and business premises, but to create a modern centre that would serve as a hub of culture and trade for the whole neighborhood.

Now that we know about history, pay attention to the architecture itself. Look carefully up. What you see is an important representative of so-called functionalism and Czech avant-garde. Note that the building does not have unnecessary ornaments that you know from much older houses. Instead, logic and purpose rule here. One of the most significant elements you can observe right now are graduated terraces. These terraces with their tubular railing provide the building with dynamism and airspeed. It's a detail that was very brave and modern at the time.

Try to realize that underneath that smooth surface layer there is a real technical novelty of its time. The whole house is built on a reinforced concrete skeleton structure. This means that the building is not held on thick walls, but on a system of columns and supporting elements, which allowed you to create more open spaces and a roof area that you also see. This approach to construction was at the time the highlight of technical progress.

But if we look deeper, we'll find that this place has much older roots than the appearance of the building could lead us to. Under the feet of this modern complex, there once was an older house in a classical style. One of the most important names of Czech painting is connected to this old house. It was in the older construction that he lived and later the painter Josef Mánes died here. It is fascinating to think that at this one point there are two completely different ages. On the one hand, the softness and tradition of the painter Mánes, and on the other hand, the bold, sharp and transparent world of functionalism. It's like a dialogue between the past and the future that takes place in a space of several meters.

Now let's focus on the inner space and the details that may not be visible from the outside, but that form the soul of this house. In the year one thousand nine hundred twenty-nine another architect, Paul Sydow, joined the project. It focused on the inner spaces, specifically on the implementation of the cinema hall and wine bar. Imagine what an experience it was for the visitors back then. They entered the passage that was part of the complex and found themselves in an environment that looked like the future. Cinema and wine bar from the building were the real center of social life. People came here not only to buy, but above all to meet culture and society.

Note also that experts from Berlin worked on the basement, ground floor and the facade itself. This shows how international the approach to architecture in Prague was then. The city was open to new influences and wanted to be at the heart of European action. This building is not only a local product, but the result of cooperation and exchange of ideas between Prague and one of the largest centres of modern times.

You might wonder why this building is so important now that you see so many other beautiful houses around it. The secret is that this house was in its time a manifesto of the new era. He refused everything old and useless. Everything you see has its practical meaning. The pipe railing is not only an ornament but a functional element. The flat roof is not just an architectural decision but an expression of a new way of using space. It's a building that says the world has changed and that architecture must go with it.

It is also interesting how the building presented itself in times of its greatest fame. Imagine these terraces filled with people watching the streets of Prague from above, surrounded by modern materials and clean lines. It was a sense of freedom and openness that was in contrast to the closed doors of the older city.

Now that you have looked at the outside appearance and learned about the fate of the people who were involved in this place, I suggest you take a moment in silence to perceive the atmosphere of this place. Try to imagine the transition from the classical house of the painter Manes to this iron concrete colossus. It's a path from romance to technology, from canvas to concrete.

Even today, this Olympic trading house remains a reminder of a time when we believe that architecture can change the way we live and feel in urban space. It is a monument to the Czech avant-garde, which was not afraid to go upstream and seek new ways.

Thank you for stopping by this fascinating building. I hope you're interested in her story, and that now you see more than just an ordinary house in these lines and terraces. I invite you to another walk in New Town, where you will have many other hidden stories and architectural pearls. I wish you a pleasant rest of the day and an inspiring discovery of Prague. Goodbye.