More than a century has passed since a handful of daring architects designed several noteworthy structures in Prague. With their unconventional appearance – sometimes to the point of bizarre – they win the admiration of not only the art world but also the members of the general public who travel to see them year after year. Their architectural style, built on a perfect and playful combination of prisms, cubes, and pyramid shapes, was revolutionary right from the start with regard to the way space was conceived, as it was possible to look at the individual parts of the structures from multiple angles at once. Although Cubism represents only one short episode in the history of architecture, here in the Czech environment (and particularly in the capital city), it holds a prominent position. There is no other country in the world where Cubist architecture became popular to the same extent that it did in our country. +9 photos view It seems like a paradox of time that a style so admired today was not enthusiastically accepted at the time of its origin. Most contemporary experts were very critical, describing it as too chaotic, outlandish, and impractical. The older generation, who had grown up in the era of Historicism and Art Nouveau, perceived Cubism (from the Latin cubus – cube) as a barbaric experiment. At the same time, their successors rejected it as being an undesirable deviation from pragmatic Modernism. Nonetheless, a small group of pioneering artists (the best known of whom include Josef Gočár, Emil Králíček, Pavel Janák, and Josef Chochol) did not give up – within a short time, they proposed and designed several unique buildings, which continue to adorn the streets of Prague to this day. cubist island The majority of Cubist residences found their place in Prague’s Vyšehrad neighbourhood (Prague 2), specifically along the banks of the Vltava River and in the nearby Libušina and Neklanova Streets. One structure that is impossible to overlook is the triplex house on Rašínovo Embankment, built according to a design by Josef Chochol. Particularly striking is its central section, completed by a polygonal gable and highlighted by a dominant bay window above the main entrance. An exceptional example of a purely architectural form of Cubism is the nearby Kovařovic Villa (Libušina 3), which is the work of the same architect’s studio. This multi-level house with a white lime plaster façade and polygonal central section (known as an “avant-corps”) elegantly extending into a small garden is enhanced by the original design of the gable walls constructed of diagonal surfaces. The garden fencing, which uses additional Cubist elements, complements the aesthetic impression of this free-standing villa. The third – and, according to experts, the best – of Chochol’s realised projects is the five-storey rental building on the corner of Neklanova and Přemyslova Streets. It’s known as the Hodek Building after the name of its builder, František Hodek. Here, Chochol took advantage of the sloping terrain as well as the fact that the two streets meet at a sharp angle at this location, which intensifies the building’s overall composition. The main façade is once again composed of diagonal surfaces, and a slim corner pillar supports the prismatic ornamentation between the windows and the crown moulding with inset enclosed balconies. Another building framed by a beautiful Cubist crown moulding was the, at first glance inconspicuous, rental building with a flat façade located at Neklanova 2. black madonna and diamant Nonetheless, the most iconic and, at the same time, the oldest example of Czech Cubism was built in the very centre of Prague, near Old Town Square at the point where Celetná and Ovocný Trh Streets meet. The House at the Black Madonna was built in 1912 according to a design by the architect Josef Gočár on the site of a demolished Baroque building from which the new structure took its name – and the original Baroque sculpture of a black Madonna and Child was installed at the first storey level behind a golden grille. Although a wave of opposition arose against the construction of what was then a modern structure in the very heart of the city, Prague’s City Hall ultimately – after some recommended modifications – accepted Gočár’s design. And this was a good decision. The building “fitted in” the historic street architecture better than ever expected, and today it is a mandatory stop for all tour guides and their clients as they make their way along the so-called Royal Route. As far as architecture enthusiasts are concerned, this particular building has one other undeniable bonus – it is currently the only Cubist structure whose interior is accessible to the public. And it needs to be said that it is not just any interior. The Museum of Decorative Arts occupies two floors, presenting a cross-section of Czech Cubism centred on furniture and applied arts design primarily from 1911 to 1914, but also extending into the early 1920s. The ground floor houses a gallery shop with the apt name of Kubista. On the first floor, you can relax in the Grand Café Orient, which happens to be the only Cubist café in the world. Here you’ll immediately find yourself immersed in the environment enjoyed by the crème de la crème of Prague society shortly before World War I. The second Cubist jewel situated in the central part of the Czech metropolis is the Diamant House on the corner of Spálená and Lazarská Streets in New Town, designed by Emil Králíček. Two monumental corner oriels dominate the magnificent building, and its segmented façade is overflowing with impressive details – portals, cornices, sculptures, and other ornaments. small cubist gems Emil Králíček also designed several additional noteworthy objects, including the unique Cubist lamp installed on Jungmann Square in New Town. Together with the neighbouring Gothic gate of the Church of Our Lady of the Snows, they create a magical, mysterious, almost fairytale nook. The candelabra is of artificial stone and consists of a series of stacked truncated pyramid shapes decorated with simple sculpted ornaments. Králíček’s other key works include the Bethlehem Chapel in Žižkov (10 Prokopova Street, Prague 3 – Žižkov), which today serves as a place of worship for the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren. The unassuming building, hidden in the middle of a block of rental buildings, combines elements of Cubism with late Art Nouveau. Knowledgeable visitors will undoubtedly be captivated by its typical simple elegance. Incidentally, this is one of only two Cubist churches in the world; the second one is in the Central Bohemian town of Pečky. A list of Cubist highlights would be incomplete without the peripheral wall and impressively conceived main gate to the cemetery in Prague 8 – Ďáblice, at the northernmost perimeter of the capital city. Then there is the Rondocubist Kiosk in the Vrchlický Garden, near the main railway station on the corner of Bolzanova and Opletalova Streets, which is an absolute rarity. Hardly any passer-by knows that they are walking past a unique preserved wood tobacco and newspaper stand dating back to the First Czechoslovak Republic (1918–1938). Today, the structure houses a currency exchange office. cubist continuation Like other styles, Cubism also had its specific development. Although its bold start was soon interrupted by World War I, the 1920s saw the arrival of architects promoting its more decorative branch – Rondocubism (sometimes referred to as Czech Art Deco). More perceptive visitors to Prague have the opportunity to see three important structures built in this specific style. The first is the former Legiobank Building, which is now a part of the Archa Palace (Na Poříčí 24, Prague 1 – New Town). The idealised way in which rounded and prismatic elements are interconnected can also be seen on the façades of the Adria Palace (on the corner of Národní třída and Jungmannova Street, Prague 1 – New Town) and the Radiopalác Building (Vinohradská 40, Prague 2 – Vinohrady). Cubism is not an extinct style but continues to be a living inspiration even today, as can be seen in the design of the Keystone Office Building completed in 2012 (on the corner of Pobřežní and Šaldova Streets, Prague 8 – Karlín). Although this gigantic glass “crystal” is shamelessly embedded amid the surrounding older structures and offers a sharp contrast to its neighbours, it fits in well with the overall urbanist concept. It introduces a pleasing, refreshing architectural element in this part of the Czech capital. The Keystone also had its vocal opponents, but the modern and artistically tasteful design ultimately received a green light. If you think you have already heard a similar story, simply recall the analogical rigmarole that Josef Gočár had to endure in connection with “his” House at the Black Madonna exactly 100 years ago… You can find more information about the significant Cubist structures to be found in Prague on the prague.eu website. Author: Jan Pomykal – Web Content & Publishing Department