K+K Hotel Central History

K+K Hotel Central is a masterpiece of Art Nouveau style and one of the first examples of the style in Prague. It is an extremely important building from an artistic and architectural point of view, being one of the earliest examples of an Art Nouveau masterpieces. Architectural and interior elements work together to create a unified form: from the façade to the decorative window and door fittings; from the exterior and interior ornamentation, to decorative paintings and carvings, furniture, lights and artistic ironwork.
The building was erected on a building site 16 meters wide and 64 meters deep. The exceptional concept made it possible to build a hotel equipped with a large space for the organization of public events. The hotel had 50 rooms, a highly impressive entrance area, a restaurant (to the left of the entrance), a "social area" (on the right) and a generous lobby with an elevator and a staircase. The staircase is a magnificent example of Prague Art Nouveau detail, thanks to its expertly crafted floral patterned ironwork. A beautiful three-storey hall with a glass roof and galleries, spacious stage and a movable orchestra pit, was used as a concert hall, cabaret, cinema, theatre and an exhibition hall. The foyer with its cafe, dressing room and a box office was suitable for grand events.
The 1920's and 1930's brought a significant change to the building. Important modifications were carried out, new extensions and demolition works were executed and the building was used for a different purpose. A new bar, opened in the basement, provided the hotel with an architectural curiosity due to its exotic oriental interior in the Art Deco style. The main space, with a polygonal base, is arched over by a fan-shaped dome and it is richly decorated with wood panelling and stucco elements, which have been preserved in their original form.
A considerable amount of the interior fittings and works of art were destroyed during radical reconstruction of the ground floor. The hall was reconstructed for use as a theatre and was used as such until 1968. The façade was completely rebuilt. The restaurant was replaced by a variety of shops, where tickets for the Hamburg -- America line were sold, and a snack bar was opened to the right of the entrance. The following decade brought many changes to the building, which was used for many different purposes including the performance of plays criticizing the communist regime, which was one of the reasons why the building was left to decay in the middle of the 1970's.
In 2002 K+K Hotels acquired the property and following a complete reconstruction it reopened in all its glorious splendour in 2004. Expert renovators and stucco craftsmen undertook all the necessary renovations and reconstruction of the original architecture and architectural details in close cooperation with Mrs. Vera Mülerova, a heritage preservation expert. The southern wing was newly built. The building now has 127 modern fully equipped rooms. A restaurant and a conference centre replaced the theatre hall, and the former Art Deco bar was rebuilt as a fitness centre. The unique architecture emphasized by the magnificent Art Nouveau decoration, together with contemporary design and modern art give the building an unmistakable character.