With the advent of functionalism, ceramic facade cladding began to be widely used in interwar architecture. The builders liked them for easy maintenance and durability. In addition, the tiled grid perfectly underlined the austerity and consistent squareness of the emerging modernism. See the gallery of the most famous tiled buildings in Prague.
The building of The Electrical Enterprises of the Capital City of Prague
Bubenská 1 (Holešovice)
Architects: Adolf Benš a Josef Kříž
Built: 1927–35
The massive electrification of Prague atthe beginning of the twentieth century culminated in the construction of a representative headquarters of the company the Electrical Enterprises of the Capital City of Prague The generously conceived building occupies the area of the entire building block on the bridgehead of the Hlávek Bridge. Inaddition to modern ceramic tiles, the building also had two pater noster, its own cinema, a spa or a pipe post. The building is currently undergoing extensive renovation.
Ministry of Interior
Nad Štolou 3 (Holešovice)
Architects: Kamil Roškot, Josef Kalous a Jan Zázvorka
Built: 1935–39
On the opposite side of Holešovice from Electrical Enterprises stands the seat of the Ministry of the Interior. During communism, it was one of the dreaded addresses in Prague, yet the building has a certain charm. The architect Kamil Roškot incorporated the initial H into its facade after the name of his then girlfriend Helena. In the immediate vicinity of the ministry, you will find other tiled buildings - the building of Gymnázium Nad Štolou or the residential building Molochov.
The NationalTechnical Museum and the National Agricultural Museum
Kostelní 42-44 (Holešovice)
Architect: Milan Babuška
Built: 1935–41
Another stop in Holešovice on the"tile tour" are the museum twins on the edge of Letna Park. The architect's original design counted with one common building for both institutions, but for practical reasons,they were separated eventually. However, the buildings still have a lot in common, for example the brownceramic tiles.
Grammar schoolbuilding
Špitálská 2 (Vysočany)
Architect: Vladimír Frýda
Built: 1927–29
The Vysočany school campus can be described, without exaggeration, as a secret gem of functionalism. Above all,the four-storey building of the grammar school attracts views with its geometrically conceived façade. Ten years after the completion of the grammar school, a lower primary school building was added. Both buildings are currently under monument protection.
Former seat of theState Security StB
Bartolomějská 7 (Staré Město)
Architect: Bohumír Kozák
Built: 1937–41
The tiled building in Bartolomějská has the worst reputation of all the listed buildings. This is where the brutal interrogations by the "estébák" took place, during which blood flowedand bones cracked. At the same time, the original purpose was much more merciful. It was a building of the Central Social Office of the Capital City of Prague.
Faculty policlinic
Karlovo náměstí 32 (Nové Město)
Architects: Ferdinand Fencl a Vojtěch Kerhart
Built: 1947–55
It is said to be one of the most beautiful medical buildings in Prague. Even though it was built after World War II, the architectural concept originated in the 1930s. In addition to the policlinic, it also initially housed the boarding school of the medical school, so it is a truly complex building. By the way, Jan Otto's printing house originally stood in its place, where the legendary Otto's educational dictionary was created.
Czech Press Agency (ČTK) Palace
Opletalova 5 (Nové Město)
Architect: Václav Velvarský
Built:1928–30
Just a few tens of meters from WenceslasSquare you will find the seat of the Czechoslovak Press Agency from the FirstRepublic period, decorated with a white ceramic facade and an interesting baywindow on the first floor. After the war, an extension in a similar but moresober style was added to the neighboring plots.
Commercial and residential duplex
Sokolská 27 (Nové Město)
Architect: Karel Kotas
Built: 1934–37
The offer of pre-war ceramic tiles was not limited to flat tiles. Architect Karel Kotas, for example, covered the facade of one of his houses with triangular prisms to achieve an impressive optical effect. The shallow relief casts a shadow that travels during the day, so the facade unexpectedly comes to life on sunny days.
General Directorate of Teplotechna
Ječná 39a (Nové Město)
Architects: Věra a Vladimír Machoninovi
Built: 1978–84
The brutalist concept of the gap site in Ječná Street attracts with its extravagant colors. Although the façade gives a ceramic impression, they are in fact enamelled sheet metal cassettes. The Machonins used them as a sound curtain toward a busy street. The sculptor Miloslav Chlupáč also collaborated with them on the form of the facade.
Ceramic signatures
During your wanderings around the city, you could notice that most of the ceramic facades are signed. The manufacturer's brand is usually embossed on one of the tiles, which in its time functioned as a unique form of advertising. Two companies shared most of the First Republic designs - West Bohemian „Západočeské kaolinky“ and Rako in Rakovník. You will definitely find the logo of some of them on some buildings in your area.
