The House at the Black Madonna - Ovocný trh 19

The House of the Black Mother of God - the first Prague cubist building from 1912 - was designed by Josef Gočár, the 35-year-old architect, for the construction of Josef Herbst as a department store, and is the culmination of Czech Cubist architecture. The sculpture of the Black Mother of God from the 17th century, which gave a name to the building, was transferred from the original building and incorporated into the northeast corner. The house stands on the site of the original baroque house of the Knights of Granov, after which it took over it´s name. It is interesting that the original Gočár design of the house did not meet the requirements of the building judge - the Prague City Hall - for perfect harmony with the historical environment. Gočár responded by adding other Cubist elements - for example a more cubist entrance or a balcony railing. In November 1993, this important Cubist house underwent a thorough reconstruction according to the Karel Prager project, during which it was rebuilt, the old coatings were removed and part of the glass roof was completed in accordance with the original Gočar design. Dům U Černé Matky Boží – první pražskou kubistickou stavbu z roku 1912 – navrhl tehdy jednatřicetiletý Josef Gočár pro stavitele Josefa Herbsta jako obchodní dům a jde p vrcholné dílo české kubistické architektury. Plastika Černé Matky Boží ze 17. století, která dala stavbě jméno, byla přenesena z původní zástavby a zakomponována do severovýchodního nároží. Dům stojí na místě původního barokního domu rytířů Granovských, po kterém převzal jeho název. Zajímavostí je, že původní Gočárův návrh domu nesplňoval požadavky posuzovatele stavby – pražského magistrátu – na dokonalý soulad s historickým prostředím. Gočár na to reagoval tak, že dům doplnil o další kubistické prvky – například více kubistický vchod nebo balkónové zábradlí. V listopadu 1993 se tento významný kubistický dům dočkal důkladné stavební rekonstrukce podle projektu Karla Pragera, během níž byl uveden do původního stavu, byly odstraněny staré nátěry a byla dostavěna i část prosklené střechy v souladu s původním Gočárovým návrhem.

The stairs are really something! And they can be seen and photographed without buying a ticket.

House of Black Madona is masterpiece to Chech kubism era. Its architect is Joseph Gocar. You can find very interesting interior.

We were recommended to come here and were really looking forward to it, but the staff let the place down. Just rude and not attentive at all. I wouldn’t bother. Beautiful building though.

Way too pricey for the tiny permanent (and temporary) exhibitions, do not think it makes sense. The curators at each floor are nice and try to show you more, but they speaks very limited English. I think you could get more by googling Cubism.

Great example of cubism in Prague

Great desserts, nice healthy menu selection for breakfast, very good customer service. Clean facilities, fast service.

Loved it as it’s different. Interesting reading about Prague’s links with Cubism, which of course is a very distinctive style, but here it goes way beyond just painting! Make sure you try the Grand Cafe Orient upstairs & also visit Kubista within the building. Also lookout around the city for the world’s only Cubist lamp post I believe!