History of the Myslbek lot

The large Myslbek building is named after the land parcel on which it was built, a piece of land often subject to the caprices of Lady Fortune. The name originated in the thirties, after an Arts association named after Josef Václav Myslbek - for more information see inf.link. The association had a temporary exhibition pavilion on the site. A comprehensive view of Myslbek's role in the neighborhood's character requires some awareness of the historical circumstances leading up to the present.

Myslbek is located on the historically significant border between the Old and New Towns. Since the site is located in the very heart of Prague, we could safely assume that all neighboring sites experienced certain developments rooted far back in the city's history. The Myslbek pasáž links two city spaces, leading out to both Na Příkopě street and Ovocný trh square.

Na Příkopě's future importance was predetermined when the city fortifications were demolished and the castle moat filled in, while the unification of Prague in 1784 also contributed to the street's present importance. Until then the area was peripheral to both towns. During the 19th century, Příkopy was transformed by construction of important commercial buildings, and by the end of the century had become a highly frequented city boulevard.

The other side of the Myslbek building faces the palatial buildings of Ovocný trh (Fruit Market), which was one of the largest and most important areas in Prague for centuries, being part of an extensive market. But construction of the Nosticovo Theater (today known as Stavovské Theater) interrupted the interconnected system of markets, thereby separating Ovocný trh from life in the Old Town. With time it became an isolated square.

Until 1926, the headquarters of the Czech bank Union stood on the site on Na Příkopě. That year the bank decided to demolish the building and announced a tender for a new headquarters. It was projected that the lot would be extended into Ovocný trh, and five buildings were sacrificed. However, the projected structure was never begun and the bank decided to sell the vacant lot.

In the thirties, the former Union banka site was occupied by the aforementioned Myslbek Arts Association pavilion. The area inherited its name from the association, and the vacant site also started to be called by this same name - an unused lot left when the pavilion was dismantled in the fifties. The whole area was then converted into a park connecting quiet Ovocný trh with lively Příkopy.

The park later served as a building site during construction of the Metro and reconstruction of the Stavovské Theater. This area was viewed as a "training ground" for several generations of architects. City councilors often put their heads together to decide what to do with Myslbek, the largest and most expensive vacant lot in the center of the capital. The winner of the last tender to be announced was the French financial company CDC, which initiated the development of a massive project - the Myslbek office and shopping center.