The Prague May was an unusual phenomenon of Czech trade 45 years ago

Prague - The department store Máj, which opened to customers on April 21, 1975, was among the peaks of Czechoslovak retail, alongside the slightly older Kotva. It was interesting - again similar to the Kotva of the Machonin couple - also from an architectural perspective. The building at the corner of Spálená and Národní was created on the site of the neo-Gothic Šlik Palace according to the design of Miroslav Masák, John Eisler, and Martin Rajniš from the Liberec SIAL studio, founded in 1968 by the creator of the Ještěd transmitter Karel Hubáček.

The actual construction was carried out by Swedish companies SIAB and ABV Stockholm. The facades showcased the contrast of the fully glazed escalator hall with the unarticulated tower of freight elevators made of exposed concrete. According to architectural historian Rostislav Švácha, the building promptly responded to the challenge posed by the 1972 project of the Paris museum Centre Georges Pompidou by the pioneers of the high-tech style Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers. In this sense, Máj received attention in foreign architectural magazines.

In March 2006, Švácha proposed the declaration of Máj as a monument, among other reactions to the fact that the then-owner of the building, Tesco Stores ČR, initially planned its demolition and then extensive reconstruction. The Ministry of Culture declared Máj a cultural monument in October 2006 as a significant example of 1970s architecture, linking with interwar functionalism and foreshadowing the concept of the high-tech style in its interiors. The final verdict regarding the monument status was made in January 2007.

The dispute over the heritage protection of Máj, built between 1972 and 1975, sparked a discussion among the public about whether not only historical but also significant modern buildings deserve protection, especially if they originate from the era of the past regime. The ministry's decision in this matter thus became an important precedent. Máj has always evoked emotions; some critics, for example, dislike its aggressiveness towards the surrounding construction.

During its existence, the department store changed its name five times. From the original Prior 02, it soon became Máj. In 1992, the center transitioned to the brand of the American chain K-Mart. From 1996, it was owned by Tesco, and initially, the department store operated under its brand, but in 2009 it was renamed My and underwent extensive interior reconstruction at the same time. In October 2014, the multifunctional complex Quadrio with shops, offices, and apartments opened in close proximity above the Národní metro station.

Last year, the new owner of the department store became the development company Amádeus Real, which stated that it plans to renovate the building. According to them, Máj urgently needs the exchange of outdated technologies. According to available information, construction work is expected to begin this year and finish in two years, with the character of the building expected to remain unchanged. Before the renewal of Máj begins, the composition of stores on the four upper floors is changing, which the owner has started offering for short-term rentals.