The rebirth of AXA Hotel
The hotel was built in the famous period of the First Republic, when our country was doing well not just politically, but was also a fertile hotbed of innovative artistic ideas. In the 1920s, some artists were immersed in ideas of an artistic style dominated by austerity, but not artlessness.
Luxurious sports hotel
With this idea in mind, Václav Pilc designed a first-class hotel on Na Poříčí Street in Prague 1, in the spirit of relaxation of the body and soul. His wife was the sports teacher Běla Friedladerová, Czechoslovak representative in swimming and diving. This sporty hotel featured not only a 25 metre pool, but also a large and small gym, commercial premises (Jepa department store) and a restaurant.
How to become a definite luxury landmark?
The massive hotel is a landmark on the street, attracting the viewer with a number of terraces, glass walls, a constructivist consoled roof and period light advertisements. It is accessed through a passage and divided into three parts, each dominated by a different colour. This colour then appears throughout the interior, in the hallways, the orientation system, upholstery and wall paint in the rooms. The furniture bears traces of functionalism, luxurious and pleasant to use. There is a prevalence of tube furniture manufactured by the Slezák factory and designed by architect Karel Honzík.
This multipurpose masterpiece was technically advanced, with its own laundry room, hot-air drying room and air conditioning. Václav Pilc ensured that the space was open, light, fitted with timeless furniture (chrome tube furniture in the spirit of Bauhaus), elegant clean lines combined with superior functionality.
Anybody who stops by the hotel will be charmed not only by the “simple” luxury, but also by the modern facilities, having been recently (2015) reconstructed by the heiress of Václav Pilc.
