Adam only owned it for a short time

The apathy has been located at the lower end of Wenceslas Square since the beginning of the 16th century. For several hundred years it was known as U Ptáka Noha. In the second half of the 19th century, however, Václav Adam became the new owner and gave the name of the company we know today. So it remained, although the owners have changed. In 1911, the Kalouss bought the building. However, living in a cold old house soon became uncomfortable for them, so they decided to demolish it and replace it with a more modern one. The only thing that remained was the deep Gothic cellars, where medicines were stored for many years.

The reconstruction also included a square

Architects Matěj Blecha and Emil Králíček took over the design and construction of the house, who imprinted late Art Nouveau, Cubist and modern elements on it. At first glance, the facade, which is decorated with sculptures of titans and griffin, attracts attention. The interior is also worth a look. The medicines are stored in period inlaid furniture and the walls are decorated with ceramic bezels with swans. At the time when the reconstruction was at its peak, the Prague City Hall came up with a request that the desolate corner behind the house be modified. This is how a part of today’s Jungmann Square was created, including the famous Cubist lamps, which is unique in the world.

Office apartments instead

The upper floors now fully corresponded to the installation of the Kalous family, which still houses the house. There were wooden wall paneling, antique columns, crystal chandeliers, comfortable leather furniture. Many have miraculously survived to this day, although the house was confiscated from the family after the communist coup. It returned to the rightful owners only in restitution after 1989. The pharmacy on the ground floor still operates, there are now offices on the apartments on the upper floors.