Prague 6 opens a new-old ceremonial hall in the Glass Palace

Prague - Wedding parties will be able to use the new ceremony hall in the Glass Palace in Prague 6 starting in June, which the municipal office has been reconstructing since 2001. The hall has moved to the location of the original café. It offers increased comfort for wedding parties, including air conditioning and barrier-free access, Mayor of the sixth district Tomáš Chalupa told journalists today.
    The new ceremony hall is larger. It has space for dressing rooms for two weddings at the same time or a separate bride's preparation area. "It is positive that it has turned to a quieter street, so the noise from traffic is less than in the original location," Chalupa said. In June, the hall will undergo trial operation. It will be fully used from July. The costs for its furnishing were approximately 20 million crowns. During the reconstruction, weddings were held at the Pellé Villa.
    Prague residents can also visit a specialized shop for wines and spirits and a flower shop in the palace. There is also a café in the premises that was created according to the original project, including furniture and lighting. The city hall will announce a tender for the last available space, which is expected to be an information center.
    The Glass Palace has already undergone three phases of renovation. The district has invested over 100 million crowns into it. During the reconstruction, replicas of approximately 30 percent of the original cladding and flooring were produced. The old and new thus create a mosaic. "Time and the atmosphere affect the original material; the color and glaze suffer. The current color differences will even out over time," said Alois Novák from the company Sneo, which oversaw the repair.
    It remains to reconstruct, among other things, the heating, which is unusually from the ceilings. "It is a technical puzzle; so far we have not managed to find many people who could repair it in case of a malfunction," Chalupa said.
    "The building has always belonged to those extraordinarily expensive and luxurious apartments in Prague. That is how the building was constructed," Chalupa said. The palace had winter gardens, underground garages, tennis courts, a caretaker's apartment, spa, and a sun terrace on the roof. The district does not plan to sell it. It is considered historical property of the municipality.
    The functionalist building in Liberty Square was designed by architect Richard Ferdinand Podzemný as the building of the Land Bank. It was completed in 1937. In 1964, it was declared a cultural monument.