Rudolfinum

The Rudolfinum is one of the most significant examples of Neo-Rennaisance architecture in the Czech Republic. The vision for it to be a multi-purpose arts building made it unique on a European scale already at the time of its construction. The fact that to this day it remains one of the most important centres of cultural life in Prague confirms that the concepts for the building and its layout were indeed timeless.

To celebrate the bank’s 50^th anniversary, Česká spořitelna provided 2 million gulden to finance the construction of the Rudolfinum. Based on a joint project by two major Czech architects, Josef Zítek and Josef Schultz, a magnificent building was constructed that housed a concert hall, gallery and museum inside. The opening ceremony took place on 7 February, 1885, in the presence of Archduke Rudolf, Crown Prince of Austria, Hungary and Bohemia, after whom the building was named. Immediately following the opening, the building started to fulfil its purpose – the Society of Patriotic Friends of the Arts’ Picture Gallery, whose collections later became one of the bases for the future National Gallery, took a permanent place in the gallery; the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra’s first concert took place in the concert hall (in 1896). Composer Antonín Dvořák took up the conducting baton for that concert (the concert hall was later named Dvořák Hall) and the Rudolfinum became the seat of the Czech Philharmonic.

Following the establishment of the Czechoslovak Republic, Rudolfinum was selected as the location for the new Parliament. The building was home to the Parliament of the Czechoslovak National Assembly In the years from 1919 to 1939; parts of the building were reconstructed for the Assembly’s needs, and this represented a significant change to the very essence of the building. Changes were especially made to part of the building that housed the galleries and the to concert hall, whose organ was removed and replaced with a parliamentary tribune. The Rudolfinum underwent its first reconstruction during the Second World War, and the space once again started to serve its original purpose. The German Philharmonic Orchestra performed at the concert hall during the war; the Czech Philharmonic returned to its seat after the country was liberated. The building also served as space for the Academy of Musical Arts and the Conservatory to hold classes. Considerable reconstruction and modernisation was carried out in the years from 1990 to 1992. Based on designs from Karel Prager, the Rudolfinum was restored according to its original layout with an effort to maintain all original details, architectural elements and artistic decorations.

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