Perched on a hill in the Dejvice district and surrounded by several acres of landscaped grounds, Hotel Praha is a concrete legacy of the Czech Republic’s communist past. It is considered the most extravagant building in Prague. The former communist party of Czechoslovakia ordered its construction and used it to lodge or wine and dine party dignitaries and illustrious foreign visitors. Nicolae Ceausecu, Romania’s last social leader, Erik Honecker, confirmed Marxist ruler of East Germany for eighteen years, and Eduard Sherardnaze, Soviet minister of foreign affairs, were among the honored guests.
Photo courtesy of Marianne Crone
Built between 1979 and 1981, large curved concrete Hotel Praha is dripping with what passed for good taste in communist days. Sweeping curves, stainless steel, polished marble, spacious public areas and majestic staircases are Soviet splendor at the highest degree and still as impressive as then. After the Velvet Revolution of 1989, hotel Praha became a five-star hotel for what the communists would have called the moneyed proletariat.
Photo courtesy of Marianne Crone
The running costs of this state-of the-art, eye-catching hotel has become hard to sustain in the oversaturated hotel market in Prague. Therefore, this communist era hotel is set for demolition. The fate of the hotel has become a public debate. Advocates of keeping the hotel wish that the Culture Ministry declare Praha Hotel a culture monument because its architecture is different from the drab rectangular designs of other communist era buildings.
Photo courtesy of Marianne Crone
If you like to decide for yourself if the architecture of the Praha is extraordinary or just boring socialist realist, hop on the metro and get off at Dejvice station. Walk uphill to Susicka street and decide whether it is an eyesore or a monument worth preserving.
