THE DANCING HOUSE

The dancing house

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5. What materials and style were used?

4. What makes it unique?

6. How did people react to it?

3. Where and When was it built?

2. Who designed it?

1. What is the Dancing House?

1. What is the Dancing House?

The Dancing House, or Tančící dům, is a unique and modern building located in Prague. It serves multiple purposes:

• Offices: Most of the building is used as office space for various companies.
• Restaurant: The top floor hosts the Ginger & Fred restaurant, offering fine dining with stunning views of Prague.
• Rooftop Terrace: Open to the public, the terrace provides panoramic views of the city.

Its mix of functionality and artistic design makes it both a working space and a popular tourist attraction.

Frank Gehry

Vlado Milunić

The Dancing House was designed by two architects: Vlado Milunić, a Czech architect, and Frank Gehry, a world-renowned Canadian-American architect. Milunić initially envisioned the project, and Gehry later joined to bring his expertise in deconstructivist architecture, adding dynamic and innovative elements to the design. Their collaboration resulted in a building that blends creativity with functionality.

2. Who designed it?

The construction took place between 1994 and 1996 on a site that had been empty since a building was destroyed during the bombing of Prague in 1945.

The Dancing House was built in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, along the Vltava River. It's surrounded by traditional baroque, gothic, and art nouveau architecture.

3. Where and When was it built?

This dynamic interplay of forms and materials creates the illusion of movement, evoking the elegance and charm of a perfectly synchronized dance. This artistic concept transforms the building into a tribute to harmony, balance, and the art of dance.

What truly makes the Dancing House unique is its design inspired by the famous dancing duo Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The two main parts of the building symbolize the dancers:

• The stone tower, representing Fred Astaire, stands tall and stable, embodying strength and elegance.
• The glass tower, symbolizing Ginger Rogers, curves gracefully around Fred, capturing the fluidity and lightness of a dance partner in motion.

4. What makes it unique?

5. What materials and style were used?

The Dancing House is an excellent example of deconstructivist architecture, a style that emphasizes unconventional shapes, asymmetry, and dynamic forms.Materials:

• The "static" part, symbolizing Fred Astaire, is made of concrete, giving it a solid and stable appearance.
• The "dynamic" part, representing Ginger Rogers, is constructed from glass and steel, creating a sense of lightness and fluidity.

The combination of these materials reflects the building’s unique design concept, blending stability and movement to evoke the imagery of a dancing couple.

PRAISE:

Criticism:

Over time, the building gained widespread admiration for its creativity and symbolism, becoming a beloved modern icon of the city. It came to represent Prague’s post-communist transformation and its openness to innovation and contemporary art.

Many people were skeptical about its bold and modern design, as it contrasted sharply with the surrounding historical architecture of Prague. Some felt it disrupted the harmony of the baroque, gothic, and art nouveau styles typical of the area.

6. How did people react to it?

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