Architect Pavel Janák’s Rondocubistic “box of chocolate”
Generally, the Leigionářská bank in Na Poříčí Street from 1923 accounts for the first rondocubistic architectural achievement, however the luxurious family villa of Antonín Hořovský had already been built in 1922.
Someone could argue that the building from the pen of the already established and nearly forty-year old architect Pavel Janákin many ways resembles a romantic and hist cottage that carries traces of folk art and refers metaphorically to the Czech naturel of “avoiding sharp clashes”. Otherwise the sharply cut cubistic shapes are round and round and cultivated.
Luxury stands for uniqueness, indelibility, and the villa surely has these features. It stands on Na Lysinách Street and you will not mistake it. The only one is rounded, full of fake battlements, and you may be reminded of a “box of chocolate”, for someone in the art deco style or the third Cubist style. It originated through the reconstruction of the original building from the 19th Century a decoratively designed colourful facade, a romantic looking balcony and a painted picture. The three-storey house has a saddle roof and a beautiful adjacent garden with romantic looking circular windows. Luxury space for family life in comfort and privacy.
A battle of critics
This building caused great discontent in the critics’ community. Karel Teige was opposing it with unflattering criticism, while Vilém Štech appreciated its inspiration from folk art. Anyway it is a luxurious building that is returning to decorativism. František Kysela, a versatile artist whose work falls into the Art Deco period, implemented the decoration of the interior. It combines elements of Cubism, Futurism and Art Nouveau.
The villa originated at a time when functionalist buildings were built in their purity, with a puristic pursuit of maximum balance of function and design. But the villa in Hodkovičky is a cheerful improvisation.
