The Dancing House

After American and British troops accidentally bombed Prague in 1945, claiming that they thought it was Dresden (as Dresden and Prague are relatively close to one another and both have rivers and bridges, easily mistaken from the air), Prague was left with a prime open spot of land on the riverfront of the famed Vltava. And so it was vacant for many years until the Croatian born Czech architect Vlado Milunic and Canadian born American architect Frank Gehry designed what would be the first truly controversial modern building to be erected in Prague since 1989. Designed in 1992 and completed in 1996, the Dancing House, also known as the Fred and Ginger building, is innovative, unique and bold. Although controversial among the older generation, the youth have embraced it willingly. It is a declaration of a modern state with new dynamic ideas mixing together with the old static state of architecture. And the building truly does blend in perfectly with the older neighboring buildings. The building boasts a rooftop French restaurant offering magnificent views of Prague Castle, while the rest of the building houses multinational firms. Originally the Dancing House was designed to showcase a cultural center; sadly the original plan fell through.

Rašínovo nábřeží 80, Praha 2