Škoda Palace

Škoda Palace is a late Art Deco office complex in the very centre of Prague, on Jungmannova Street, which today serves as the seat of Prague Town Hall. The original building was constructed in 1929 for the Škoda company, designed by Pavel Janák — one of the most influential Czech architects of the early twentieth century, known for shaping the country's modernist and Art Deco architectural language. The complex also includes an adjoining office building on Charvátova Street, completed in 1937, forming a two-part development built roughly a decade apart in the heart of the city.

What makes this building architecturally significant?

The strength of Janák's design lies in the flexible internal layout he gave both parts of the complex. Office and communal spaces in the 1929 building on Jungmannova, as well as in the 1937 addition on Charvátova, were arranged so they could be reconfigured and subdivided as needs changed. This adaptability is a hallmark of accomplished late Art Deco office architecture, and it explains why, nearly a century after construction, the buildings still meet demanding modern requirements for functional office space.

How is the complex organised internally?

One of the defining features of Škoda Palace is its multiple entrances. This arrangement allows the interiors to be split into separate, independently operating sections without disrupting the rest of the building. In practice, this meant different tenants or departments could occupy distinct parts of the complex at the same time — a design choice that proved useful both in the interwar period and later, when the buildings housed large institutional occupants.

What has the building been used for over the decades?

The complex takes its name from the Škoda company, which commissioned the original 1929 building. Its institutional use changed over time: from 1994 to 2004, Škoda Palace served as the headquarters of the ČEZ Energy Group, one of Central Europe's largest energy companies. After that period, the building took on its current role as the seat of Prague's municipal government, functioning as the city's Town Hall.

Where exactly is Škoda Palace located?

The building stands on Jungmannova Street, directly adjoining Charvátova Street, in the very centre of Prague — one of the most densely built and heavily visited parts of the city. Its central location makes it easy to include in a walking route through Prague's historic core and neighbouring business district.

What should visitors know before stopping by?

Škoda Palace is not a conventional tourist attraction with interiors open to the public — it is an active administrative building. For visitors, its interest lies mainly in the exterior architecture: the late Art Deco massing and the recognisable design language of Pavel Janák, whose work helped define Czech modernist architecture. It is worth comparing the detailing of the older 1929 section with the later 1937 wing, which offers a small but telling illustration of how architectural style shifted in Prague over a single interwar decade.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed Škoda Palace? The building was designed by Pavel Janák, a prominent Czech architect, for the Škoda company in 1929.

What is the building used for today? Today it serves as the seat of Prague Town Hall.

Who previously occupied the building? From 1994 to 2004, it housed the headquarters of the ČEZ Energy Group.

Were both parts of the complex built at the same time? No — the original building on Jungmannova dates from 1929, while the adjoining building on Charvátova was completed in 1937.

Where in Prague is Škoda Palace located? On Jungmannova Street, in the very centre of Prague, next to Charvátova Street.