Перша ощадкаса держави The first savings bank of the state

Rating 9110

The first Czech savings bank was essentially a bank - and the bank required a real, large, solid building. An appropriate place was chosen for it - the corner area in the Kotze area (Prague's Old Market) - between the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square.
During the demolition of the old building they found a treasure. The funds were used for construction. Construction of a new bank began in the last decade of the XIX century. Prominent architects of the time were engaged in the design: Osvald Pol? Vka and Anton? N Wiehl.
The architects developed a large-scale project in the style of the Czech Neo-Renaissance. The buildings they created at that time were characterized by an excess of decor - exterior and interior. The authors actively used sgraffito painting (for the bank it was made by Mikolaš Aleš ), decorated the building with stucco ornaments and sculptures (Vosmik, Suharda, and a number of other famous Czech sculptors worked on the statues).
The building was erected for three years (1891-1894). It attracted the attention of the people of Prague, as it was located in a historic area and its magnificent appearance dominated the surrounding houses. The architects wanted this effect: they wanted to show the population the power and financial power of the new institution.
The architectural composition of the building is divided into three levels. The first level looks stable and rough. The facade of the first floor is decorated with classic rust stone; entrance porticos are made powerful and massive; round arched window openings are cut in the walls. The second level looks lighter - it is decorated with antique sculptures, Ionic columns. On the third level there are almost no decorative elements - it is simple and elegant.