The Art Nouveau Hotel Evropa will be complemented by a new building, welcoming guests in three years

Prague - Once a famous Art Nouveau hotel, Evropa on Wenceslas Square is set to regain its former glory and shine. The owner has decided to renovate the hotel, which has decayed for decades without investment. A new building will be constructed in the courtyard, designed by the Prague studio DaM. The construction, which will require an investment in the hundreds of millions of crowns, is expected to take about two and a half years. After that, the hotel should once again welcome guests. This was reported to ČTK by Stanislav Stupka, the director of the Prague Property Administration, which is the investor of the project.
    The hotel, known for its Art Nouveau appearance and referred to as the Grand Hotel Šroubek by its former owner, was once one of the most luxurious hotels in Central Europe during the First Republic. For example, before the war, it was home to the British businessman Nicholas Winton, who directed efforts to rescue Jewish children from Nazism from there.
    In 1951, the hotel was nationalized and renamed Grand Hotel Evropa. After 1989, it was restituted, and the current domestic owner purchased it in the 1990s. Based on a mandate agreement, it was transferred to the Prague Property Administration, which is the investor for the reconstruction. The hotel is currently rated with two stars, and after reconstruction, it is expected to have 154 rooms at a five-star standard. The project includes the reconstruction and restoration of the Art Nouveau façade and the addition in the courtyard.
   

DaM, architectural office, Hotel Evropa, Prague

In Prague, the number of hotels grew rapidly until approximately 2009; however, due to the crisis and reduced willingness of banks to invest in these projects, the hotel boom ceased. According to experts, demand is now recovering, but rather for lower-level capacities. However, Hotel Evropa should attract guests with its unique historic interior, of which there are not many similar ones in Central Europe.
    It is still unclear who will operate the hotel, as the investor is negotiating with several hotel operators about the final operation model for the accommodation parts as well as the restaurant and café.
    "The Art Nouveau section, including the original interiors, will retain its authentic character from the early twentieth century, especially the valuable original two-level café and the French salon. The addition to the historic building will be a modern section in the courtyard for visitors preferring a modern interior with options for a sports and relaxation program," described the intention of the reconstruction to ČTK architect Jiří Havrda from the DaM studio, which also has experience with the reconstruction of historic houses, such as the Palace of Noblewomen at the Castle. Near Hotel Evropa stands their Euro Palace, which has received a nomination for the Mies van der Rohe Award in addition to national awards.
    The reconstruction of the hotel received a building permit in 2008, which was supplemented by a change before completion at the end of 2010. Construction began in 2011 with preparatory work. The builder, after a temporary pause, has now resumed work with a new contractor.
    The National Heritage Institute examined the intention to rebuild as early as 2004 and then several times in subsequent years. Initially, it recommended the more conservative option, which included preserving some generally inaccessible architectural elements in the courtyard. Based on assessments from experts in architecture and structural engineering, the variant that replaces the specified object with an exact replica incorporated into the new building was chosen.
    The hotel was built in 1872 by architect Josef Schulz in the neo-Renaissance style. After reconstruction in 1889, it was remodeled into the style of geometric Art Nouveau by Bedřich Bendelmayer, Alois Dryák, Bohumil Hübschmann, and Jan Letzel between 1903 and 1905. In 1924, the hotel was purchased by Prague restaurateur Karel Šroubek, who renamed it Grand Hotel Šroubek. The hotel became famous worldwide not only for its Art Nouveau decorations but also for its renowned cuisine and first-class service.