What do you do if you're Czech and marginalized by your Germanic rulers? You decide to build a cultural center, which was the original purpose of the Municipal House or Obecni dum. While the style is specifically Prague Secessionist, it incorporates the Art Nouveau influences popular when the building was begun in 1903. By the time it was completed in 1912 Art Nouveau was passe and the structure was criticized. It did. however, become a national symbol since the design inside and out was strictly done by Czech architects and artists. When the Czechoslovakian state was declared in 1918 it was from this building and it was used for Czech affairs. When the Nazis invaded in 1939 they took over the building and used it as their headquarters. Then when the Czechs fell under Soviet rule it fell into disuse and disrepair as Stalin hated it. Happily, the Soviets did not have the money to tear it down as they wanted. It has been restored and the concert hall is now in use. It also houses two restaurants, a cafe, a bar and a space for art exhibitions.
Smetana Hall is named in honor of one of the Czech Republics great composers Bedřich Smetana and you can click this link for a quick listen to one of his pieces. Smetana musical piece The concert hall could easily be overshadowed by the very big organ if it wasn't so beautiful in its own right.
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| Smetana Hall Organ |
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| Balcony Box in Smetana Hall |
There is more to the Municipal House than just Smetana Hall. When MH was build the women's lounge and men's rooms were separated. And yes, men had more places they could go. But the women's lounge is a beauty. A combination of both art nouveau (curved lines of nature) and art deco (geometric lines) in style.
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| Municipal House former Women's Lounge |
There is much more, but I will never get this posted if I go on. I will have more about the Mayors Hall done by Mucha in a subsequent post.
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