#Apartment house #Prague (Praha) #1937
Palackého 718/9
110 00
Prague (Praha),
Czechia
Public transport: Můstek / Václavské náměstí
Today's use: Apartments and shops
Description
Due to the narrow plot from the 14th century, the house's width is only 9.70 m. On the other hand, the depth of such building on a medieval plot is very large in relation to the width. In addition, the street is very narrow. All these circumstances explain why Zelenka chose a glass facade for the lower three floors in order to let as much light as possible fall into the rooms. For this purpose, he has been used glass concrete blocks of the Verlith type, which were placed between the window bands. The result is that the facade cannot bear any load. The first and second floors sit in the concrete frame that can be seen very clearly on the house. Inside, non-load-bearing walls were also fitted with these glass concrete blocks. Unfortunately, we do not know whether they have been preserved inside. It is interesting to note that the windows on the fourth and fifth floors are also formed by a zone with these glass blocks. On the third floor the architect placed a terrace above the second floor by moving back the facade. We assume, that the last floor was added much later. A further terrace has been created on the top floor by moving back this floor.
Light plays a major role in this architecture: when the light shines inside in the evening, the house glows into the street.
Zelenka intensively followed the latest architectural trends and developments of building materials. He almost certainly found the inspiration for this house in Le Corbusier's Immeuble Molitor in Paris, finished in 1934.
Description
Due to the narrow plot from the 14th century, the house's width is only 9.70 m. On the other hand, the depth of such building on a medieval plot is very large in relation to the width. In addition, the street is very narrow. All these circumstances explain why Zelenka chose a glass facade for the lower three floors in order to let as much light as possible fall into the rooms. For this purpose, he has been used glass concrete blocks of the Verlith type, which were placed between the window bands. The result is that the facade cannot bear any load. The first and second floors sit in the concrete frame that can be seen very clearly on the house. Inside, non-load-bearing walls were also fitted with these glass concrete blocks. Unfortunately, we do not know whether they have been preserved inside. It is interesting to note that the windows on the fourth and fifth floors are also formed by a zone with these glass blocks. On the third floor the architect placed a terrace above the second floor by moving back the facade. We assume, that the last floor was added much later. A further terrace has been created on the top floor by moving back this floor.
Light plays a major role in this architecture: when the light shines inside in the evening, the house glows into the street.
Zelenka intensively followed the latest architectural trends and developments of building materials. He almost certainly found the inspiration for this house in Le Corbusier's Immeuble Molitor in Paris, finished in 1934.
History
The house was built on a medieval plot in Prague's New Town in 1937. It was apparently originally a department store, which could be explained by the windows on the lower three floors, which let a lot of light into the low-lying rooms. Currently, a shop is situated on the ground floor, offices above and flats on the four upper floors.
History
The house was built on a medieval plot in Prague's New Town in 1937. It was apparently originally a department store, which could be explained by the windows on the lower three floors, which let a lot of light into the low-lying rooms. Currently, a shop is situated on the ground floor, offices above and flats on the four upper floors.
Sources
