Functionalist Architecture

Sometimes it is very difficult to distinguish between functionalism and constructivism, similar to, for example, classicism and empire. However, while classicism and empire can be distinguished from each other and from other styles based on chronology and external ornamentation, functionalism and constructivism do not use any decoration or ornament. Both styles have a common denominator – they aim to purify architecture of all decoration and, to some extent, even of architectural additions with sculpture and painting.

The first Prague functionalist buildings were realized in the historic setting of New Town. Their architects had to respect the historical Gothic layout of the building ground plans, giving rise to a specific type of “Prague functionalist house.”

Functional houses and commercial palaces were constructed on Wenceslas Square, including the Bata shoe store and Lindt department store by architect Ludvík Kysela from 1925-1929, Hotel Juliš by architect Pavel Janák from 1927-1933, the Na Příkopě Passage of Černá Růže by architect Oldřich Tyl from 1929-1933, and the Olympic Palace on Spálená Street by architect Jaromír Krejcar from 1925-1926.

The largest functionalist building in Prague is the Trade Fair Palace (Veletržní palác) by architects Oldřich Tyl and Josef Fuchs (located in Holešovice district, built from 1924-1928), which currently houses the collections of modern art of the National Gallery.

The functionalist concept of family villas is best illustrated by the remarkable residential colony Baba in Prague 6, where almost all of the most important Czech interwar architects are represented. The violent end of functionalist architecture was brought about by the German occupation and the Second World War. Thanks to this, Czech functionalism over the years became a symbol of a lost “golden age” and simultaneously the highest artistic goal to which architects consciously adhered throughout the rest of the 20th century.