Building a Nation: Modernist Czech Architecture & Design

This brand-new tour takes travellers on a journey to the cities of Brno, Hradec Králové and Prague to gain an in-depth understanding of the aesthetics and philosophies that drove the development of Czech modernism as a vehicle for the expression of nationhood. We will enjoy visits to a selection of important buildings, both private and public.

Overview

The Czech Republic, whilst well-known for its medieval and Baroque architecture, is also notable for its artists’ and architects’ significant contributions to modern design. Innovation, craftsmanship and social ideals came together throughout the 20th century to produce an array of world-renowned modern and functionalist buildings that speak to the country’s new sense of nationhood. From the villas of Brno to the modern city of Hradec Králové and Prague’s Cubist and contemporary architecture, our tour will trace the evolution of Czech design over the past century, taking in superlative examples along the way – including municipal, commercial, private and religious buildings.

We will begin in Brno, whose modernist architecture – from elegant interwar boulevards to department stores and civic buildings – speaks to the transformation of the city during the 1920s and 1930s. Several refined modernist villas can be found here: the Villa Stiassni was designed by Ernst Wiesner from 1927-29, while the UNESCO-listed Villa Tugendhat by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is considered a masterpiece of functionalist design, with its open-plan layout and extensive glazing contributing to the creation of a harmonious sense of flow, not only within the house but also between interior and exterior.

Continuing north, the city of Hradec Králové provides an important example of early 20th century central European progressive urban planning. It was masterminded by the architect Josef Gočár, who studied under Jan Kotěra at the School of Applied Arts in Prague, later co-founding the Prague Art Workshops and taking up a professorship at the city’s Academy of Fine Arts. 

Gočár’s House of the Black Madonna in Prague’s Old Town is considered an iconic piece of Czech Cubist design, and is now home to a museum dedicated to the movement. This is just one of a wealth of fascinating sites within the Czech capital, illustrating its role as a key player in the development of modernist design. The Trade Fair Palace, originally constructed in 1925 and considered Prague’s first functionalist building, now contains the National Gallery’s collection of modern art, including paintings by Picasso, Gauguin and leading Czech modernists.

We will also explore two innovative examples of modernist design from the 1930s. The Villa Müller exemplifies architect Adolf Loos’s revolutionary and experiential architectural concept ‘Raumplan’, wherein rooms are organically designed and organised based upon their intended function, with dimensions differing depending on the eventual use of the space. Meanwhile, the progressive Baba housing estate – known as the Czech Werkbund – contains experimental functionalist homes designed for the modern age by a number of influential names in early 20th century architecture. The development has been awarded the European Commission’s prestigious European Heritage Label.

Our tour concludes with an exploration of Prague’s vibrant contemporary art scene at the DOX Centre for Contemporary Art, a museum complex in the Holešovice district which showcases the role of the arts in promoting urban renewal. The striking Dancing House was designed by Frank Gehry and Vlado Milunič, while the elegant riverfront galleries of the Kampa Museum contain modern Czech sculpture.

Throughout, we will build an understanding of the ways in which modernism was employed as a new form of design for a new nation. 

Cost Details

Building a Nation: Modernist Czech Architecture & Design