Zvuky Prahy / Sounds of Prague

The huge building was constructed after a design by Oldřich Tyl and Josef Fuchs between 1925-1929. During the war served as one of the locations where Prague Jews where gathered before being transported to Terezin concentration camp. Until 1951 trade fairs were held in the building; later the palace served as headquarters for several trade companies including Tuzex, where Czechs could buy western products for specially emitted currency called bony. In 1974 the functionalist structure was destroyed by fire. Since its reconstruction in 1995, the building has housed the National Gallery's collections of modern and contemporary art. Since 2000 it has also been the home of the 19th century collection.