Building NATIONALE NEDERLANDEN

The Dancing House (Cz. Tančící dům), also known as Ginger and Fred, is an icon of contemporary deconstructivist architecture in Prague. The building was constructed between 1994 and 1996 on the Vltava riverbank, on the site of a former Art Nouveau house that was bombed in 1945. The concept of the building was co-created by Czech architect Vlado Milunić and American architect Frank Gehry; however, the idea itself emerged earlier in conversations between Milunić and Václav Havel, the later president of the Czech Republic, who dreamed of a cultural centre on the neighbouring plot.

The Dancing House demonstrates how a roofing system can actively contribute to the expressive character of a building’s form. For a structure with such a dynamic geometry, the architects chose RHEINZINK titanium zinc in a double standing seam system. This solution made it possible to faithfully reproduce the intended shape, to lead clear dividing lines across the curved roof surfaces and to ensure a high level of watertightness and durability – even in critical areas.

A particularly important role in shaping the façade is played by the distinctive window flashings. The metal frames visually project the windows out from the wall surface, reinforcing the three-dimensional effect, while the frames and reveals give the elevation a clear, rhythmic pattern. At the same time, the RHEINZINK titanium zinc flashings perform an essential technical function – they drain water, protect the edges of the plaster and ensure a durable, watertight connection between the glazed openings and the irregular form of the building.