Dancing House, Fred and Ginger Building Prague, Czech Architecture Design Project

Dancing House Prague : ‘Fred and Ginger’ Building

Contemporary Czech Architecture design by Vlado Milunic / Frank Gehry Architect

post updated 16 September 2022

‘Fred and Ginger’

Dates built: 1992-96

Design: Vlado Milunic with Frank Gehry Architects

Location: Tančící dům, Rašínovo nábřeží 1981/80, Praha city centre, Czech Republic

Dancing House Prague Fred and Ginger building by Frank Gehry architect
photographs © Ivan Andera

Dancing House

Photos added 15 Mar 2013

aka The Dancing Building, officially the Rasin Building

The idea of the Dancing House was discussed first between Czech architect Vlado Milunić and the then dissident Václav Havel, who lived in the neighbouring “House 2000”, owned by the Havel family since its construction. Nationale Nederlanden insurance company agreed to invest in the project, asking Milunić to also have a partner of world prestige.

Dancing House Prague Frank Gehry building

After Jean Nouvel turned down the invitation, Frank Gehry accepted. He nicknamed the project Fred and Ginger.

The principles adopted include contrast of the static and dynamic (yin & yang) “figures” of “Fred” and “Ginger”, “Fred” having the head hair ball dominant called “Medusa”.

Rasin Building Prague Fred and Ginger

The river front shows marks of deconstructivist style. Some interiors of the investor’s offices were designed by Eva Jiricna Architects (ed, worked on by the e-architect editor, Adrian Welch, a difficult project fitting rectilinear furniture within an organic shape which changed on every floor level). Completed 1996, first very controversial for the Prague citizens, now widely acknowledged piece of art.

Rasin Building Prague by architect Frank Gehry

Dancing House Prague – ‘Fred and Ginger’ Building images / information from Ivan Andera

Fred & Ginger building, Jiraskuv Bridge, central Prague
1996
Architect: Frank Gehry Architects with Vlado Milunic
aka The Dancing House (Czech: Tancící dům), or The Dancing Building, or Drunk House, officially the Rasin Building
Location: by the Vltava river southwest of centre
Address: Nationale-Nederlanden building, Rašínovo nábreží 80, 120 00 Praha 2
Vlado Milunic is a Croatian-born Czech architect
Frank Gehry is Canadian and one of the most famous architects in the world

Fred and Ginger Prague design : Frank Gehry

Location: Rašínovo nábřeží 1981/80, 120 00 Praha 2-Nové Město

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