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Hotel / History of the Building

– THE PERLA HOTEL

The Perla Hotel welcomed its first customers in July 2007 after an extensive reconstruction of two interconnected houses, which, owing to the current layout of the premises, form one building.
House No. 412, also known as the “Spinet House” is located at the corner of Perlová and Rytířská streets and the windows of some of the guest rooms and the café-bar offer a view of the picturesque square of Uhelný trh, dominated by a charming fountain.

This house originally extended along the entire length of the street up to the town’s drainage channel. The first owner, documented in records in the early 15th century, was Václav Kramaréř Velfl. The house had been frequently passed on between more or less wealthy owners and was subject of several minor as well as major reconstructions.
The history of the building in the 20th century is no less attractive. The owner’s application for demolition of the then Classicist house was rejected and in 1938, a famous architect, Karol Kotas, took charge of the reconstruction. However, following numerous disputes with the owner and the city authorities, the original house was tore down and between 1939 and 1940 a new and notable building was constructed on the site in the Late Functionalist style, respecting both the historical context and the demands of the conservationists. In this sense, the building designed by Karol Kotas served as an inspiration for many other newly constructed buildings in the centres of Czech towns and cities. The highly valued features and details of the Functionalist style are to be found in the arcade in Rytířská Street as well as inside the hotel – i.e. in the lobby and on the staircase leading to the upper floors.

With the hotel so conveniently placed close to several sights and points of interests, let us briefly describe the history of the surrounding area.

Perlová Street
The original name of the street was U fortny k Panně Marii Sněžné (At the Gate to Our Lady of the Snow) or simply U fortny (At the Gate), which in the Middle Ages meant sand fields. These fields represented the district boundaries in the medieval town. The current name, Perlová (Pearl) has been in use since 1769.
The street, where, similarly to most of the Old Town, each house had a name, is dominated by aHouse No. 371/5, a modern building with a corner tower, which is one of the first steel structures in Prague. At present, it houses a bank.


Rytířská Street
This part of the city – i.e. the St. Gall District – was planned and built in the early 13th century. Moreover, a 500-metre long building line was found in the area – fairly rare feature in its time. In the early 19th century, the western part was called Vaječný trh (Egg Market) and the eastern part was known as Husí trh (Goose Market) according to the type of goods marketed. The current name, Rytířská (Knight Street) dates back to the mid-19th century and is derived from an annual celebration of the anniversary of the coronation ceremony of Charles IV in 1347, during which guests were served to and entertained. Similar festivities and tournaments had been held here until the 18th century.
The ancient atmosphere of the street is intensified by the preserved deep arcade of House No. 2 at the corner of Perlová Street. Except for a few neighbouring houses many of the original buildings had been demolished during an extensive urban renewal of the Old Town in 1892 – 1894, and the present-day Old Town Market was built in their place.

Uhelný trh
The original name was Nový uhelný trh (New Coal Market) (as the Old Market was located in the present-day Old Town Square), as well as Zelný (Cabbage) or Zelený trh (Green Market).
The charcoal market was moved to this area in the 14th century. An old blacksmith’s shop with an adjacent charcoal furnace stood in the middle of the square until the early 19th century (apparently until 1807).. Unfortunately, the oldest house in the Old Town was later demolished.
The triangle of the present-day Uhelný trh (Coal Market) has preserved its ancient appearance. Mobile street cook-shops selling inexpensive food used to stand here until late 19th century.
A stone fountain ordered by and bearing the name of a Prague businessman and benefactor, Jakub Wimmer, i.e. Wimmerova kašna (Wimmer's Fountain) was erected here in 195. It is decorated with statues sculpted by František Xaver Lederer.