Risk takes courage
The authors of this piece are Josef Havlíček and Karel Honzík. They belong to the youngest generation of Czech architects raised in the era of the functionalist avantgarde. They became the bearers of bold ideas within Czech functionalism. With a daring attitude, they won the architectural competition for this building, despite not adhering to the pre-set rules regarding the shape of the closed block.
They were inspired by Le Corbusier putting emphasis on function, rationality and natural lighting. Josef Havlíček and Karel Honzík followed his footsteps when designing the Žižkov building.
And that is how the first Czech skyscraper came to life
The architects came with a cross floor plan in order to ensure that all 700 offices can benefit from daylight. They planned to build eleven floors which, in the thirties, meant that the building would become the tallest in the Czech Republic. The building received praise for being “the most daring” and “most successful” during its era.
Using decoré was considered taboo in the functionalist era. To compensate for this the architects did their best to incorporate a combination of shapes, materials and colors into the design of the building.
Thought-through architecture
The cross floor plan allows for shorter corridors.
Efficient ventilation
An efficacious conditioning system ensures the building breathes.
All the day light
Tall ceilings and ribbon windows ensure plenty of daylight.
Sublime material
Marble, glass, wood or metal: a fine diversity of material wherever you look
A joyful future
New owners took over in 2018, wanting to bring the building back to life. Their plan is to revitalize it with the art, culture and gastro industries. The goal is to return this functionalist gem back to its prime purpose: to be of value for its people and serve the community.