Theatre Milenium came into existence in 1998–1999 with reconstruction of one of the industrial buildings from the end of 19^th century in the complex of Holešovice market in  Prague,  Bubenečské nábřeží 13 (N. 306). The project was realized according to the design by architect Jaromír Pizinger (* 1959), who graduated in architecture and industry design in Austria and worked mainly in Austria, USA and Italy up to 1997.  J. Pizinger pursued reconstructions of interiors for commercial utilization first of all (for instance Design hotel Sax in Prague, 2008) and he is the author of decorative items collections, jewellery and lighting for various Italian, German or Austrian companies. He designed constructions of new factory halls in Brescia and pursued stage designs and realizations of large  fashion shows (Austria). With his atelier MORIX, s. r. o., he was awarded the first prize in public tender for new theatre and culture centre in Česká Lípa.

Adapted building N. 10 is a part of large industrial complex of former municipal slaughterhouse (since 1953 immovable culture monument), its project was realized by Municipal building office under technical leadership of municipal building counsellor and engineer Josef Srdínko, the author of an array of Neo – Renaissance school buildings in Prague. An important complex from 1893–1895 was created because of direction from 1889, which stated that livestock could be slaughtered in Prague district only in central slaughterhouse in Holešovice. Massive steel structure is a work of Českomoravská Kolben – Daněk Company. Market was opened here, after slaughterhouse had been abolished, in 1983. The city rented the whole area in 1995 for fifty years to American – Israel joint-stock company Delta Climatizer with seat in Brandýs nad Labem, which reconstructs stepwise the complex. This company became a builder of Milenium Theatre as well.

 Building approval was issued in the beginning of 1999. The theatre was designed especially for musical Rusalka by authorsZdeňěk John (music), Jaroslav Kvapil (libretto) and Michael Prostějovský (libretto adjustments) on the motifs of the opera by Antonín Dvořák. Musical was ushered by company Parlando, s. r. o., from 26^th January 1999 to 22^nd January 2000. The performance was directed by Jozef Bednárik, Theodor Pištěk designed the costumes, and architect Pizinger worked in this project also as an author of stage design.

Theatre building is not isolated, but is connected with other buildings of similar type. It is a traditional single storey brick factory building with central bay, typical for 19^th century. Façade is broken by window with segmental head; corner is framed by brick pilaster strips. The building has a  rectangular layout, with cellar and it is covered  with a saddle roof. The author added a foyer with a staircase to the street façade of the building. It is single-storey house in outer form, in corner rounded object with completely glassed-in façade, making reference to the architecture of international style of 1960s. Glassed-in annexe creates deliberately a contrast to industrial language of the brick factory building from 19^th century. The author of the project preserved only circumferential walls from the original industrial building. He inserted central stage into the building (analogy of traditional „orchestra“), closed from three sides by steeply-raked auditorium of amphitheatre type, which is maximally filled with seats due to the commercial orientation of the theatre.  Loggia behind portal lintel was dedicated to orchestra. The architect used a wide balcony in front of loggia and glass circular stair on the left side of portal mirror as a stage element at introduction of Rusalka musical.

Architect sited background for the cast and technical staff of the theatre (dressing rooms, toilet facilities, rehearsal room, storerooms, machine-room and so on) into the basement area. Ground floor rooms are dedicated to the spectators. The architect solved the entry to the theatre in main street wing, which is accessible directly from Bubenečské riverbank to public. The entrance part appears very inexpressively in exterior, probably due to requirements of the monument preservation.

Employed sources and literature:

- Stavební archiv MÚ Praha 7

- Jiří Hilmera, Česká divadelní architektura, Praha 1999, s. 176.

- Jaromír Pizinger, QUO VADIS divadlo?, Architekt XLV, 1999, č. 8 (nestránkováno).

- Jaromír Pizinger, Divadlo Milénium, Fórum architektury a stavitelství VII, 1999, č. 8-9, s. 44-46.;

- Hana Hlušičková (ed.), Technické památky v Čechách, na Moravě a ve Slezsku, III. díl, Praha 2003, s. 316.

Tags: Contemporary era

Author: Markéta Svobodová

Translator: Jan Purkert