Peterkův dům Other

Welcome to one of the most interesting addresses in Wenceslas Square. You are standing right in front of Peter's house, a building that tells its appearance and history about the time of great changes and courage in Czech construction. If you look at it now, you will see a four-story house, which, with its elegance and its specific rhythm, differs from many surrounding buildings. It is a place where the business dynamics of the centre of Prague meet with artistic search for a new identity.

Let us now return in time more than a hundred years back, to the year one thousand eight hundred ninety-nine. It was this year that the house was built where the house of the Black Eagle originally stood. Why is this building so important? Because it is the first Prague project of famous architect Jan Kotera, who took care of the design of the facade and entrance hall, i.e. the lobby. Vilém Thierhier worked with him on the project. At that time Prague was a city looking for a new style, and this house became one of the first examples of Art Nouveau architecture in our capital. It was designed to perform two functions simultaneously. On the lower floors, it was to serve as the seat of the bank and of the companies, whereas the upper parts were intended for housing.

Now pay attention to the details you see right in front of you. Look at the bottom of the building. Note the unusually wide oval glazed arcade on the ground floor, supplemented by two narrower side arcades. This element gives the building ease and at the same time the open way attracts the views of bystanders. Look at the overall facade and see its harmony. Kotera worked here with purity and modernity, which was very brave at the time. It is this space that you are now surrounding that was the year of the thousand eight hundred ninety-ninth symbol of the new beginning in Czech architecture.

When we talk about people who were connected to the house, we can't forget the character of the banker, Peter. It's the house that's got its name on it. In the year of a thousand and nine hundred he built his apartment in the front of the building where he could watch the events in the square. At the same time, the building became the headquarters of the People's Bank and other companies, making it the centre of the financial movement of that time. In addition to Peterka's banker, the names of other prominent figures such as Jan Pekárek, Stanislav Sucharda and Jan Preisler are connected to the building. They are people who have influenced the culture and art of their time by their actions and their connection to this place only underlines the importance of the building as a cultural hub.

And now I'm going to transfer you to the part that may be the most fascinating. Imagine today's admiration for this construction wasn't always obvious. At the time of its creation, Peterkův dům caused a stormy reaction. People were used to other, more traditional shapes, and this new, different form was the target of sharp criticism. Many critics' contemporaries were unable to accept such a distinctive style difference. It is fascinating to think that what we now consider a harmonious piece of Prague's heritage was once seen as provocation. But this courage for new shapes has brought recognition within a much wider time frame. It was because of its uniqueness and importance that the house was entered in the list of cultural monuments in the year one thousand and nine hundred and fifty, which guaranteed it protection for future generations.

When you stand in front of this house today, see it as a bridge between the old world and modern. It is a monument to the time when architects were not afraid to go upstream and when Prague was becoming a metropolis that follows the latest European trends. Peterkův dům is not only a pile of bricks and glass, but an embodiment of the ambitions of people who wanted to create something really new and unique in the city centre.

Thank you for stopping by this beautiful building. I hope this short trip to history helped you see Peterkův dům in a new light. Now I invite you to look around in peace, perhaps once again see the details on the ground floor and then continue to explore other hidden treasures of New Town. I wish you a pleasant walk and many other discoveries in the streets of Prague. Goodbye.