SPECIAL – Czech Classics

In the Czech Republic, the Iconic Houses Network has no fewer than 14 wonderful modern member house museums to date. Among the best known, of course, is Villa Müller in Prague by Adolf Loos, an important European pioneer of modern architecture. And in Brno there is Villa Tugendhat, the masterpiece designed by celebrated German American architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, which was inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 2001. But there are also quite a few hidden gems by unsung local heroes that you can explore while you browse our world map or check the directory. In 2023 we toured many of the Czech Member houses. You find more about that program in this link. The 18 Iconic Shorts (Pecha Kucha format presentations) of that conference can be streamed for free in this link.

Note: Plan your visit(s) well in advance, as house museums can have irregular visiting times and often require online reservation.
Tap on the links or photos here below to read further.

New at Iconic Houses!

Laichter House, Jan Kotěra, Prague, 1910
Laichter House is a poignant example of early Bohemian modernist architecture. It is a place that tells the story of the 20th-century tensions between democracy and totalitarianism and demonstrates that once seemingly decimated cultural hotspots can come alive again with a house museum, as well as a suite for guests to stay overnight.

Vila Volman, Karel Janů and Jiří Štursa, Čelákovice, 1939
One of the most beautiful and expensive residences of the first Czechoslovak Republic built for Josef Volman and his family. The architects, who had a very detailed knowledge of Le Corbusier's work, conceived Villa Volman as a work of art in a large natural park above the romantic landscape of the Elbe River.

Semler Residence, Adolf Loos and Heinrich Kulka, Pilsen, 1934
The interior of Oskar and Jana Semler’s family apartment, which was built into an earlier residential building, is a top monument of modern architecture in Central Europe. The very large apartment has no floors, instead individual spaces of different heights are concentrated around a central living hall on six different levels: Loos'(Raumplan).

Villa Winternitz, Adolf Loos and Karel Lhota, Prague, 1932
Villa Winternitz, the last building designed by Adolf Loos to be completed before his death, was built in 1932 for lawyer Josef Winternitz and his family. The spacious building has all the aspects of a Loos Raumplan, built-in furniture, beautiful materials and unexpected colours. It's possible to rent the house for an overnight stay.

Villa Tugendhat, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Brno, 1930
The Tugendhat Villa is a unique work of art in terms of construction, layout, interior furnishing, technical support and integration into a natural setting. For the first time in the history of architecture, a steel structure in the form of cross-shaped columns was used in a private house. The interiors feature rare materials like onyx and Macassar ebony.

Villa Müller, Adolf Loos, Prague, 1930
Known as an innovative landmark of early modernist architecture, the Villa Müller embodies Loos' ideas of economy and functionality. The spatial design, known as Raumplan, is evident in the multi-level parts of individual rooms, indicating their function and symbolic importance. Raumplan is exhibited in the interior as well as the exterior.

Villa Rothmayer, Otto Rothmayer, Prague, 1929
Villa Rothmayer is an important work of Prague’s interwar architecture. Its design can be characterized as ascetic Classicism with elements of vernacular architecture propagated in Czech lands by Rothmayer's teacher Plečnik. The interiors are not very spacious, but their connection to the veranda and picturesque garden is crucial.

Villa Stiassni, Ernst Wiesner, Brno, 1929
Villa Stiassni was built for the Jewish textile manufacturer Alfred Stiassni, who lived here with his wife Hermine and daughter Susanne for just nine years till they fled for the Nazi occupation in 1938. With a gardener's house, stables, driver's apartment, greenhouses, swimming pool and tennis court, it was one of the largest private lots in Brno.

Brummel House, Adolf Loos, Pilsen, 1929
The unspectacular grey house, closely to the Pilsen bus station, hides an architectonical jewel inside. The interior of Brummel house is a radiating colorful oasis where you can easily forget the unpleasant outside world. The interior on the 2nd floor was lived in by Jan Brummel, his wife Jana and her mother Hedvika Liebstein.

Adolf Loos Apartment and Gallery, Adolf Loos, Prague, 1929
The complete interior has been saved, carefully restored on the initiative of the Adolf Loos Apartment and Gallery and re-installed in another apartment of approximately the same size in the heart of Prague. One of the world's most comprehensive collections of Loos's original furniture and glassware is here on permanent view.

Hotel Avion, Bohuslav Fuchs, Brno, 1928
Hotel Avion is a symbol of interwar Czechoslovak avant-garde and one of the narrowest hotel complexes in Europe. The ten-story terraced building on a plot 8 metres wide amd 34 metres deep is 40 metres high, making it the tallest building in the historical centre of Brno. The hotel has 37 rooms, a restaurant and Bauhaus Centrum Avion.

Villa Bílek, František Bílek, Prague, 1911
The exhibition in Villa Bílek includes his significant works of art dating to the early 1890s. Bílek’s late oeuvre is represented by two monumental woodcarvings. Also Bílek’s original furniture which was created in connection with the construction of his new studio villa documents the versatility of his artistic approach.

Josef Hoffmann Museum, Josef Hoffmann, Brtnice, 1907
Merging two smaller houses probably created the Hoffmann house. Hoffmann refurbished the house and concentrated on the interior, designed new pieces of furniture and had the walls in the rooms painted in vivid colours. The exterior changed very little. It was only after a fire of 1934, that the original mansard roof was given today's form.

Jurkovič House, Dušan Samo Jurkovič, Brno, 1906
The Jurkovič House is one of the prime examples of modernist architecture with elements of folk art. The central hall is restored to its authentic form, and the reception area has his original furniture. The permanent exhibition also presents other works by Jurkovič and temporary design and architecture exhibitions are programmed at the house.

Posted November 7, 2024