Dancing House (Tančící dům)
The Dancing House is the nickname given to
the Nationale-Nederlanden building in downtown Prague, Czech Republic
at Rašínovo nábřeží 80, 120 00 Praha 2. It was designed by
Croatian-born Czech architect Vlado Milunić in co-operation with
Canadian architect Frank Gehry on a vacant riverfront plot (where the
previous building had been destroyed during the Bombing of Prague in
1945). The building was designed in 1992 and completed in 1996.
The very non-traditional design was controversial at the time.
Czech president Václav Havel, who lived for decades next to the site,
had supported it, hoping that the building would become a center of
cultural activity.
Originally named Fred and Ginger (after Fred Astaire and Ginger
Rogers - the house vaguely resembles a pair of dancers) the house
stands out among the Neo-Baroque, Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings
for which Prague is famous. Others have nicknamed it "Drunk House".
Photo 707, Sept 2008