The 14 Best Places To Dance In Los Angeles

Table Of Content

• The Ultimate Guide to Prague’s Best Bakeries
• What To See And Do At the Dancing House Prague
• Prague Dancing House/Building (Fred and Ginger): Facts, History & Architecture
• Czech Dubbing Stars: Voices that Shape Our Viewing Experience
• How To Get To The Dancing House Prague
• Using Tram in Prague: Everything You Need to Know

The closest subway is the metro line B (yellow color) – Karlovo náměstí station. You can find the connection on the DPP (Public Transportation of Prague) website. The Dancing House is located at Jiráskovo náměstí (Jirásek Square) in Prague, just 220 m from the nearest metro station. In the same year Dancing house won the prestigious prize of the American Times magazine in the category “Design of the Year”.

The Ultimate Guide to Prague’s Best Bakeries

This unique building is located on the riverbank of the Vltava River at the corner of Rašínovo nábřeží and Jiráskovo náměstí. The official name of the Dancing House in Prague is Nationale Nederlanden Building and its nickname is also „ Ginger and Fred “. The Dancing House has become a popular tourist destination in Prague, attracting visitors from around the world. Its unique and unconventional design, combined with its location on the banks of the Vltava River, makes it a must-see attraction for tourists and architecture enthusiasts alike. Heartbeat House offers a variety of inclusive classes- from dance, yoga, pilates, fitness and meditation to restorative workshops and community events.

What To See And Do At the Dancing House Prague

The building’s design is said to be reminiscent of the couple’s elegant and graceful dance moves. The nickname “Fred and Ginger” is often used to refer to the building, further emphasizing the connection to the iconic dancers. For the building parallel to the river, they used concrete panels in 99 different shapes and dimensions. At the inauguration, a sculpture, Medusa, was placed on top, made of metal tubes and covered with stainless steel wire mesh.

Prague Dancing House/Building (Fred and Ginger): Facts, History & Architecture

The French architect Jean Nouvel turned down the idea because of the small square footage, but the well-known Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry accepted the invitation. Because of the bank's excellent financial state at the time, it was able to offer almost unlimited funding for the project. Visitors to the Dancing House can explore the building’s interior spaces, including the gallery and the Fred and Ginger restaurant. The panoramic views of Prague from the top floor of the glass tower are particularly breathtaking and offer a unique perspective of the city.

Most importantly, there is a sightseeing terrace on top of it, from which you can overlook the breathtaking panorama of Prague. The Dancing House is not only a stunning architectural masterpiece, but it also plays an important role in Prague’s cultural scene. The building houses a gallery that showcases contemporary art and hosts various cultural events and exhibitions.

The New Jalisco Bar

At that point a single terrace juts out and hangs onto the concrete tower. The volume is supported on a small forest of inclined columns- metaphorical legs which appear from under Ginger’s skirts and mark the entrance to the building. The principles adopted in the design included the contrast between static and dynamic figures (Yin and Yang).

The second structure extends parallel to the river, on three sturdy pillars, and is characterised by the undulating mouldings of its façade and the incoming and outgoing windows distributed non-linearly. The sinuous mouldings of the façade made the perspective more ambiguous, tempering the contrast with the neighbouring buildings. Behind the twisted façade there are relatively simple floors, based on a conventional connection of leaseable space, organised around a core of circulation in an L-shape. The Nationale Nederlanden building, known as the “Dancing House” or sometimes “Fred and Ginger”, is one of the most significant landmarks in Prague and definitely the most internationally renowned piece of post-1989 Czech architecture. It is home to almost 3000 square meters of office premises, a restaurant, a gallery, and a conference centre.

How To Get To The Dancing House Prague

Due to the destruction of that building, after the war, it was decided to construct a new and modern building to replace it. First, the project was proposed to Jean Nouvel but he rejected it because of the size of the site. Later, Frank Gehry took the project and designed this unique building with architect Vlado Milunić.

Part of the interiors of the building were designed by the British architect of Czech origin, Eva Jiřičná. The design tools and technique used on this building served as a test for future processes that Gehry would use in all his projects, including the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. The use of curves in the building imitates the aerodynamic form of planes and sports cars. The software which his company developed was later used to design French aircraft. With its clear-cut deconstructivism and unusual form, the style of the headquarters of the Nationale-Nederlanden is considered by the designers of architecture to be “new-barroque”.

Who Won Dancing With The Stars 2023? DWTS Winner, Eliminations Season 32 - STYLECASTER

Who Won Dancing With The Stars 2023? DWTS Winner, Eliminations Season 32.

Posted: Wed, 06 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Among the predominantly art nouveau, baroque, and classical architecture of Prague is the unusually designed Dancing House. A short list of the Dancing House’s more prominent structural features follows. The building’s distinctive undulating form has earned it the moniker “Fred and Ginger,” after the renowned dancing duo Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. There are office spaces, a high-end hotel, and an eatery named Ginger & Fred’s on the structure’s nine above-ground stories. The Dancing House holds a significant place in Prague’s history and cultural transformation. The building was completed in 1996, just a few years after the Velvet Revolution, which marked the end of communist rule in Czechoslovakia.

The Dancing House’s modern and unconventional design was seen as a symbol of Prague’s newfound freedom and openness to new ideas. The combination of these unconventional construction methods and materials resulted in a building that stands out among Prague’s historic architecture. The Dancing House’s distinct appearance and innovative design have made it a landmark in the city and a testament to the creativity and ingenuity of its architects. To construct the glass tower, a steel frame was erected and covered with a layer of glass panels. These panels were custom-made to fit the curved shape of the tower and were carefully installed to ensure a seamless and smooth appearance.

Symbolically, the two sections represent both static and dynamic energy meant to honor Czechoslovakia’s transition from a communist state to parliamentary democracy. Deconstructivist architecture, which is used in the Dancing House, is a form of postmodernism that celebrates dissonance. Deconstructivism, also referred to as new baroque, resulted in architecture that seemed “deconstructed” and disjointed. The phrase was coined to indicate a rejection of the Russian Constructivist ideology. Harmony, clear forms, and consistent textures are all things that should be avoided in deconstructivist design.

But at the same time, it turned out that – as chance would have it – one of the leading representatives of the bank was a friend of Vlado Milunić and liked his project. All the above mentioned factors, together with the company’s wish to have an internationally renowned architect working on the building’s design, resulted in a compromise. Frank Gehry, a famous Canadian-born American postmodernist architect, was invited to co-operate with Milunić. Together they created a design combining the original idea with a new outlook. They created the “Dancing House”, as we see it at the Rašín Embankment today.

As you delve into the intricate details of the Dancing House’s façade, you’ll find yourself pondering the larger narrative of architectural history. The interplay of materials, textures, and spatial arrangements embodies the essence of architectural discourse that has spanned ten centuries. Protests against the government escalated after the collapse of the Wall of Berlin when Václav Hável peacefully toppled the Czechoslovak Communist Party and set up a federal-style republic known as the Velvet Revolution.

After 6 years of events, rehearsals, a small amount of classes, and regular public rentals, The Dancehouse chose to relocated to another warehouse in Point Loma and has began to expand its public dance classes schedule and events. The Dancing House’s fascinating history, from its construction process to its role in Prague’s cultural scene, adds to its appeal and significance. The building’s interior design, with its modern and artistic aesthetic, is a testament to the architects’ attention to detail and their commitment to creating a modern and artistic masterpiece. In conclusion, the Dancing House is a truly unique and iconic architectural masterpiece that has become a symbol of Prague’s modern architecture. Designed by renowned architects Frank Gehry and Vlado Milunić, the building’s distinct appearance and unconventional design make it a must-see attraction for architecture enthusiasts and travelers alike. In addition to the gallery, the Dancing House also serves as a venue for conferences, seminars, and other cultural events.