Legiobanka

Finished in 1923.

Legiobanka, or Bank of Czechoslovak Legions, is located in Na Poříčí street, Prague. In 1919, it was decided to create a bank for the Czechoslovak Legions in France and Russia and its building was built in 1921–1923 on the location of a Classicist building of the famous Prague brewery and cabaret U Bucků. Architect Josef Gočár designed the building in the spirit of the new architectural style called Rondocubism. The new style was also called Curved Cubism and “the National Style”, and it different from its predecessor by its curved and milder shapes. Instead of sharp edges, it used arches often connected with folk architecture. The building’s exterior is very prominent owing to its emphasised cornices, which helps it stand out among the neighbouring buildings although it is relatively narrow and set further from the street than them. The bank’s decorations were created by sculptors Jan Štursa (sculptures of legionnaires on the pillars at the entrance) and Otto Gutfreund (sandstone relief in the interior featuring a motif from the Legions’ battles), as well as František Kysela (interior paintings and stained glass in the lightwell above the bank hall). Gočár himself designed the furniture. Originally, there was a concert hall with an organ on the lower ground floor, but it was later turned into a theatre.

In 1937–1938, another building was built for the bank, designed by architect František Marek in the functionalist style, and connected with the old one. Both buildings have been property of the Czechoslovak Commercial Bank since 1990. A reconstruction based on a design by Vojtěch Obadálek and Jan Janoušek was carried out in 1992–1994. Marek Houska designed the interior. Buildings in the courtyard were replaced by an administrative building with an underground garage and a new connection with the fountain was built. The theatre hall was also reconstructed (Miroslav Melena and Ivan Plicka), with a multi-purpose stage and a restaurant U Rozvařilů. After the successful reconstruction, the building got its current appearance and it is now known as the Archa Palace. There is an eponymous theatre there as well. The original building of the former Legiobank is now on the list of cultural heritage.