Haasův obchodní dům, Renaissance Revival building in New Town, Prague, Czech Republic
The Haas House is a department store built in 1869–1871 on Na příkopě street in Prague's New Town, designed by Theophil Hansen. Its historicist facade in the style of late northern Italian Renaissance hides cast-iron columns and steel beams. Allegorical statues of Science, Trade, Industry and Art by Josef Freund stand above the high-floor windows, and a balustrade crowns the roofline.
Construction finished in 1871 on a site that had served commerce since the 14th century under earlier names. Its completion reflected Prague's broader transformation during the late 1800s as the city modernized and expanded its business districts.
This place marked a shift in how Praguers shopped, as it was among the city's first modern department stores with a new approach to retail. You can see today how the space draws people in and how the layout encourages browsing across different areas.
The building stands at Na příkopě 847/4 in Prague's New Town, on a small square plot now enclosed by the Palác Koruna. Most of the interior is occupied by a Benetton store, so the iron-framed floors and staircases can be seen while shopping. Look up at the facade for the statues by Josef Freund.
The combination of traditional stone walls with an iron framework was technically novel when built, allowing interior spaces that were larger and more open than other buildings of the era. This construction method set new standards for commercial buildings across the region.
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