Myslbek Shopping Gallery: Striking Modern Architecture
Myslbek Shopping Gallery in Prague marks the border between the New Town and the Old Town. Compared to other malls in Prague, this shopping centre is very small. You will find here some twenty shops, mainly fashion boutiques and some restaurants. When you see ‘Nakupni Galeri’ on the all glass facade, you know you are in the right place, because this is the Czech word for shopping centre. Even if you do not like shopping, the Myslbek’s architectural details are worth seeing. The striking façade and the all-glass art installation in the central hall seem to clash with the Baroque elements in Na Prikope street, yet fit in quite well.
Myslbek Shopping Gallery
Myslbek Shopping gallery is in the centre of Prague on na Prikope, the main shopping street in the Nove Mesto district. Myslbek, built in 1996 and almost entirely made of glass, was one of the first shopping malls in Prague. It is named after the Czech sculptor Josef Václav Myslbek (1848-1922), who became known for his equestrian statue of Saint Wenceslas located on Wenceslas Square.
Myslbek Shopping Mall: the shops
Myslbek Shopping Mall is home to some twenty shops including H&M, Intersport, DM drugstore and Calvin Klein. Get your nails done at Les Ongles and for something eccentric head to Karl Lagerfeld. T.M. Lewin is perfect for men’s shirts and women’s blouses. Take home a Czech souvenir from the Pilsner Urquell Shop, socks, a backpack or just bottled beer. Gant combines American casual wear with European elegance, fashion for him and her and the kids.
Myslbek Shopping Centre: the restaurants
Hungry from shopping? UGO Salaterie, specializes in healthy shakes, fresh fruit juice and vegetable or fruit salads. Head to Vapiano for Italian food; pizzas fresh pasta, risotto and salads. They also offer a special kids’ menu.
Myslbek: Modern Architecture in a Baroque Street
Myslbek architecture is unique. The shopping arcade runs through the Myslbek office building, which has a huge glass facade on Na Příkope Street. This arcade is marks the border between Nove Mesto and Stare Mesto and connects the new town with the old. The Na Příkope entrance is in Nove Mesto and the Ovocný Trh entrance is in Stare Mesto.
At the entrance on Na Příkopě Street are two huge sliding doors that symbolize the separation between the old and the new town. They open every morning and close every evening.
The Myslbek shopping centre has a circular central area with shops and restaurants. Striking is the glass installation on the ceiling, a hand-blown artwork that represents a crystal vortex.
The Doors with the Heads
There is an entrance door to the technical facilities of the building on Ovocný trh. This door is decorated with sculptures of bronze heads facing in various directions. They symbolize the crowds of shoppers in the Myslbek shopping centre. A wishful thought as this shopping centre is never very crowded. This work of art was made by the Czech sculptor Karel Nepraš (1932-2002).
Getting there
Myslbek Shopping Gallery is in the Nove Mesto district close to Wenceslas Square. There are two entrances: Na Prikope 19-21 and Ovocny thr 8.
Public transport: metro stations Mustek (line A and B) and namesti Republiky (line B)
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 9am – 8pm, Sunday 10am – 7pm.
More shopping nearby
Cerna Ruz shopping mall
Palladium Shopping Centre
Kotva Department Store
photos Marianne Crone