Paper Model of the National Theatre

Product description

Paper Model of the National Theatre

Model designer: Pavel Havránek

Scale: 1:500

The National Theatre stands as a symbol of Czech national identity. Its construction was made possible through a public collection supported by the entire nation — including townspeople, nobility, entrepreneurs, artists, scientists, the City of Prague, and Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. The architectural competition was awarded to Josef Zítek. Following a tragic fire shortly after its initial opening in 1881, reconstruction work was carried out under the direction of Zítek‘s student, Josef Schulz. Schulz maintained the architectural style established by Zítek but made modifications to enhance visibility, including alterations to the auditorium layout, a reduction in the number of seats, and the integration of Dr. Polák's adjacent residence to the National Theatre (and Provisional Theatre) which now serves as the director’s office. These efforts successfully unified three separate structures into a cohesive and harmonious architectural entity.