Architect Alena Šrámková: Designed by ČKD in Můstek

Alena Šrámková was born in 1929 and spent her youth in Slovakia where she also studied. Architecture and Civil Engineering at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava. She also studied architecture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. Her work is characterized by clean lines and simplicityTherefore, according to the historian of architecture Rostislav Švácha, it is included among the representatives of Czech strictness.

During her life, Oramkova designed countless buildings and her work represented many extraordinary achievements. It is undoubtedly one of the most striking of them CKD office building in Wenceslas Square.

Roots in deep history

The plot of land was first built in the 15th century, when part of the moat was filled in. At that time there was a house in the Baroque style called Sklenáský. He stayed here until the nineteenth century. In 1902 the house was demolished, Anna of Rosheim, the owner of the house. It was replaced by the František Buldr . building, who built several rental and department stores in Prague, including the Louvre Palace. In the 1930s, the building was modified and the Edison Café was built on the ground floor to the design of Ladislav Machona and Zdeněk Pešánek.

Bulldog construction continued in Můstek until the 1970s, when it was demolished again, He had to make way for the then-planned metro construction and the Můstek station, the construction of which was to begin here in 1973. “In 1972, an architectural competition for 4 invited groups was held. Without the participation of Jan Sramka and Alina Sramkova. However, in the same year, dissatisfied with the results of the competition, commissioned The chief engineer then entrusted Jan Sramek with a new project, which later invited Alena Šrámková to collaborate ”, as stated in the Památkový catalog.

The icon of the seventies

One of the main requirements was that the building should connect to the newly built metro station. However, the design largely reflects the Bulldog’s construction, particularly in the layout of the windows, and the combination of glass and stone up to the massive light hours. For the first time ever, in connection with the house on the Alena Šrámková Bridge, the term postmodernism appeared in Czech architectureIt was just an architectural icon in the ’70s. “For people, the house was such a “salvation” that the house could be built like this. “I have the impression that it was of great importance at that time,” Oramkova said.

However, the party and government then paid little attention to this architectural gem, and after twenty-five years of use it had faded at best, and the former illustrious administration of the building, which also had a restaurant, patisserie or fast food, only a filthy memory. Fortunately, shortly after the revolution – In 1992, the Ministry of Culture declared ČKD house a cultural landmark, Therefore, it was not threatened with extinction. It was bought by the German clothing company New Yorker, which, however, needed to modernize the building and turn it into a clothing store. They invited Alina Oramkova herself for the reconstruction, After all, one of ČKD’s conditions was when they sold the building, which he eventually agreed to.

Europe’s largest New Yorker

“At first I thought it would be very difficult to do anything about it. I would prefer the class to be closed, and I don’t think of anyone else doing it. But then I realized I didn’t, and considered it a completely normal business. The house – I don’t like it. I was always mad at the dirty and unmaintained wayAramcova said about the contract at the time.

The interior of the building had to be significantly redesigned to suit the needs of the store. The side leading to Wenceslas Square is completely open and new escalators have also been built. The air conditioning system has been completely redesigned and the restaurant fixtures that have replaced warehouses and offices are gone. In 2004, the clothing company New Yorker opened its largest store in Central Europe here.