Czech architects: Personality of the City of Brno – Ernst Weisner
Weisner capitalised on his creative potential when he opened his own design studio in 1920. Weisner started out as an architect who designed smaller buildings, but due to his great diligence, he worked his way up to being an architect of great and acclaimed renown. Admiration for Adolf Loos is reflected in his approach to design.
The unique work of the architect
The daring design of the apartment building at Údolní ulice no. 38 was his introduction to the general public. It catches your eye with its smooth façade and simple decoration around the windows. Through this purist expression, the building brought a new wave to Brno, a city which was developing in the style of Art Nouveau, thus also indicating the development of architecture in Brno towards functionalism, simply rendered facades, strict geometry and towards logically designed interior layouts. All of this is for example exhibited in the collection of villas built in the 1920s for rich Jewish clientele in the Masaryk district of Brno.
These luxurious buildings are a jewel in the crown to this very day
The building of the Crematorium was also an unprecedented architectural act of its time, combining a utilitarian and technical side with expressive statement. Other remarkable and luxurious buildings include the Morava Palace, and administrative and residential building in one.
One luxurious gem which was not preserved for the generation of today is the famous Café Esplanade on Rooseveltova ulice. This was a spectacularly conceived space, glazed, with an oval hall and glazed ceiling. This beautiful building was destroyed during the bombing in 1944.
Collaboration with Bohuslav Fuchs on the Moravian Bank was another innovative piece of work. Then came the last project before Weisner’s forced emigration, this being conversion of the so-called Doret Court on Malinovského náměstí.
Ernst Weisner left for the luxurious city of London where he took on the position of teacher at the School of Architecture in Liverpool and brought to life his design of the Roman Catholic School in Liverpool. England became his home for good. He retired and later died in Liverpool in 1971 at the age of 81.
