Bozděchova 344/2 ↔ Nádražní, Smíchov, Prague 5
Zlatý Anděl Passage: A Modern Connector of Smíchov
The passage within the Zlatý Anděl complex is one of the busiest commercial thoroughfares in Prague 5. Connecting Bozděchova and Nádražní streets, it forms a direct entrance to one of the largest transport hubs in the metropolis.
An Empire-style building with an inn called “At the Golden Angel” originally stood on the site of today’s complex, giving the entire area its name. After the building was demolished in the 1980s to make way for metro construction, a vacant lot remained here for many years. The current look of the site began to take shape in the late 1990s with the construction of an administrative and commercial complex that defined the modern face of the Anděl intersection.
Architecture: Glass and Inscriptions The building was completed in 2000 based on a design by the world-renowned French architect Jean Nouvel. Its architecture is rooted in technicism and a play with layered glass:
The facade with inscriptions: The building’s glass shell features excerpts from texts by authors connected to Prague, such as Franz Kafka, Rainer Maria Rilke, and Gustav Meyrink.
The figure of the Angel: The corner near the metro entrance is dominated by a large-scale depiction of an angel, inspired by the film Wings of Desire (Der Himmel über Berlin). This figure has become a landmark for all of Smíchov.
Today, the passage serves primarily as a functional facility for the wider area. Its character is shaped by a high concentration of people and constant movement, which, in this part of Smíchov, also brings the downsides typical of major transport hubs.
Commercial use: The main part of the passage is occupied by a large grocery store and fast-service establishments.
Accessibility: For pedestrians, the passage provides the shortest route from the office buildings on Bozděchova Street toward the tram stops and metro on Nádražní Street.
Today, the passage serves primarily as a functional facility for the wider area. Its character is shaped by a high concentration of people and constant movement, which, in this part of Smíchov, also brings the downsides typical of major transport hubs.
Commercial use: The main part of the passage is occupied by a large grocery store and fast-service establishments.
Accessibility: For pedestrians, the passage provides the shortest route from the office buildings on Bozděchova Street toward the tram stops and metro on Nádražní Street.
Conclusion
Zlatý Anděl remains both a controversial and admired building. Although the passage primarily serves a practical shopping and transit role in the bustling environment of Smíchov, Jean Nouvel’s architectural design makes it one of the most significant projects of modern post-1989 architecture in Prague.
