Trade Fair Palace – National Gallery Prague: Modern Art Collection

The Trade Fair Palace, originally built as a hall for trade fairs, was completed in 1928. It was constructed between 1925 and 1928 and was notable for being the largest functionalist building at the time of its completion.

The Trade Fair Palace was opened on September 28, 1928, coinciding with the first public exhibition of Alfons Mucha's 'Slav Epic'. The grand opening attracted a large attendance, estimated at up to 560,000 people.

During the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, the Trade Fair Palace grounds were utilized as an assembly point for Jews living in Prague who were then transported to concentration camps. They were housed in adjacent huts rather than within the building itself.

A significant fire broke out in the paint shop on the fourth floor of the Trade Fair Palace on August 14, 1974. The fire spread rapidly and lasted for six days, being extinguished on August 20, 1974. The cause of the fire is considered to be arson, an electrical fire, or the ignition of toluene-soaked rags.

Following the 1974 fire, a decision was made in 1976 to renovate the Trade Fair Palace, aiming to remain faithful to the original design. The architectural firm SIAL was put in charge of the rebuilding, with Karel Hubáček as project manager and Miroslav Masák as lead architect.

In 1978, two years after renovations began, the Trade Fair Palace was given to the National Gallery Prague. It was intended to house modern art collections within the rebuilt structure.

After extensive rebuilding following the 1974 fire, the Trade Fair Palace was officially reopened on December 13, 1995. The reopening featured an inaugural exhibition titled 'Like a Phoenix'.

The Trade Fair Palace is a significant example of functionalist architecture, notable for being the first and largest functionalist building in Prague at the time of its construction. Its design features an eight-story structure primarily made of reinforced concrete with glass exteriors, centered around a large atrium.

Architect Le Corbusier was significantly impressed by the Trade Fair Palace during his 1928 visit, stating it widened his horizons and inspired him to create larger buildings. He viewed it as a validation of his own ambitious proposals for structures like the Palace of Nations.