The terrace was one of Klang's ideas. It wasn't originally a part of the 17th-century classicist building, and Klang had to fight hard to get the plans approved. Hybernia, known historically as palác U Hybernů, is considered a National Cultural Heritage building and conservationists weren't pleased with Klang's rooftop vision.

"It was a matter of sharing this beautiful view with the people," Klung explains during a tour of the magnificently restored playhouse last month.

Gazing out over the rooftops of Old Town, Klang seems lost in thought for a second. "This is a very specific spot," he says. "You can get a general overview of Prague from here. The city just wraps itself around you."

"This place has something of a spirit," he says. "There were many buildings that were demolished, but this building stayed here."

Klang was brought onboard in 2003 and immediately knew he wanted to preserve the building's unique "spirit" as much as he could. The architect says he wants people to remember that Hybernia used to be a church. To that end, Klang carefully picked out delicate-looking glass angels to decorate the lobby's two spiral staircases and the first floor bar area.

The back stairwell and a small portion of its sandstone wall are some of the few things that remain of the original structure.

"I just wanted to keep some of it ... to remind people," Klang explains.

One of the best-kept treasures of the old church, however, remains hidden from public view.

Backstage, Klang pushes aside a rack of haphazardly hung costumes and opens a big, glass window to reveal a breathtaking sight — a hidden room with beautifully painted angel frescos covering its walls.

The 354 million Kč ($16.8 million) renovation of the theater was finally completed at the end of September, just two months before the curtain rose on Golem.

Golem, the story of the Black Plague that raged through the streets of Prague centuries ago, is performed in Czech with English subtitles, and Fiala says the production team is hoping to attract a mixed audience of natives and tourists to the show.

"The public's response has been good so far. However, we have just had a few shows," Fiala says. "The critics are divided, as usual."

Once Golem closes, the theater hopes to bring in a string of original Czech plays and musicals, though nothing is currently lined up, according to Fiala.

"They wanted to do something serious; nothing too revolutionary," Klang adds, noting that his suggestion for painting the outside of the building a cranberry-red color with sculptures at the south end was vetoed. He was also pushing for floral seating but settled for red, removable rocking seats.

Despite these setbacks, though, Klang says Hybernia's renovation has been one of his favorite projects to date.

"As a professional architect, it was a very demanding task to work on," he says. "Not only do I perceive this as a luxurious area ... [but] this building is an important house in the city."

Pausing to take a drag of his cigarette, Klang looks around at the ground-floor lobby. "I have felt a connection to the architects who worked on this building centuries ago."