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Special modern architecture in Prague.
The Dancing House (Tančící dům), located on the Vltava River embankment in Prague, is one of the city’s most iconic examples of contemporary architecture. Designed by Frank Gehry and Vlado Milunić, it was constructed between 1992 and 1996 on a site left vacant after World War II bombing. The building is a striking example of deconstructivism, contrasting with the surrounding Baroque, Gothic, and Art Nouveau styles of Prague.
Its design symbolizes a pair of dancers—Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers—represented by two distinct towers. The glass tower, curving dynamically, is referred to as “Ginger,” while the solid, upright stone tower is “Fred.” This duality expresses motion versus stability, and modernity versus tradition. Structurally, the building uses 99 concrete panels of varying shapes, combined with a steel framework supporting the curved glass façade, demonstrating technical innovation for its time.
Initially controversial for disrupting the city’s historic harmony, the Dancing House has since become a celebrated landmark and was even featured on a Czech 20-koruna coin. Today, it functions as an office building with a rooftop restaurant and gallery space, symbolizing Prague’s openness to modern architectural expression while respecting its layered urban identity.