budova Magistrátu města Hradec Králové Public building

Welcome to the heart of Hradec Kralove. Right now, you're facing one of the most significant and monumental buildings in the city. Stop for a moment, take a breath and just feel the space around you. The budova Magistrátu města Hradec Králové stands before you. It is a construction that, with its size and rigour of basic shapes, looks very dignified and modern. If you look at it as a whole, you will see a complex that expresses its architecture as the order, stability and strength of city governance. It's a place where history meets the vision of the future, as people saw almost a century ago.

Let us now look together at how this building was created and who was behind its proposal. This construction is not just an ordinary office, it is the ultimate work of one of the most important Czech creators of modern architecture, Josef Gočár. Gočár was a master who was able to transform the face of Hradec Králové, and the Magistrate represents his last great project in this city. Construction work began in August 1935. Imagine the atmosphere, the hustle and bustle of builders and the expectations of the people who saw something new and unshakeable growing in the city centre. The building was festively opened in 1936 and has since served as the administrative centre of the city. It is fascinating to think that this construction was completed at a time when the world was in a period of great changes and uncertainties, and yet in it Gočár materialized a sense of endurance and peace.

Now, please pay attention to the architecture itself. Look carefully at the overall layout of the building. What you see in front of you is a constructive complex. Constructivism is a style that emphasizes function, clean lines and geometry, without unnecessary ornaments that would distract attention from the essence of the building. Notice how the area is divided. You see two lateral tracts, which are essentially the two main long parts of the building standing next to each other. These two parts are then connected by a third, lower line. It is in this central connection that the doorman is located, which serves as the entrance gate and organizational centre of the building.

Now, if you look even more carefully, look for an element that unifies the entire appearance of the building and gives it its specific character. Look at the upper part of the coupling. You'll see a thin roof plate. It's a very interesting detail because this board looks almost light, like it's levitating over space. And yet she is supported by two subtle columns. This contrast between the massive size of the entire complex and the fineness of these columns and thin plates is typical of Gočár's taste. It's a game of matter and lightness that takes something from the building's official cold and gives it architectural elegance.

This building is not only about concrete and stone, but also about the people who gave it life. In addition to Josef Gočár himself, whose name is inextricably linked to this place, other important people were associated with the construction. The persons associated with this place include for example Josef Václav Bohuslav Pilnáčik and Vincenc Makovský. However, it is also important to mention those who physically built the building. Gočár proposed a vision, but it was converted into reality by castle builders, namely František Capoushek and Václav Capoushek. It is something very beautiful that such an important monument was built by local craftsmen who put their work and skill into every detail of this complex.

When you look at the building, you might wonder if anything has changed since 1936. The architecture remained true to its original intention, but time also brought about minor adjustments. One of them is the installation from 2011, when a glass half-plate of transparent glass was inserted into the space. This element finely complements the original constructivistic style and shows that the building can still accept modern elements today without losing its identity.

The interesting thing that may elude you is that the Magistrate was declared a cultural monument in 1964. This means that the state and experts have recognised its exceptional value for the whole Czech architecture. Josef Gočár was one of the most important modernists, and it was in Hradec Králové that left a trail that is recognized worldwide. This building is a proof of how the practical need for an official space can be combined with a high artistic aspect.

Try now to imagine what this building looked like on the day of its opening in 1936. New facades, clean lines and a sense of total novelty. Since then there have been thousands of decisions that have affected the lives of Hradec Králové. The Magistrate is not just a building, it's a living organism of the city.

Now that you've looked at the exterior and learned about its origin, I suggest you admire the entire area from different angles. Try moving to those subtle columns and look up at the roof plate. Feel how the perspective changes and how the building works closely compared to the view from a distance. Note the rhythm of the windows and the purity of the surfaces that are so typical of constructivism.

Thank you for accompanying me to this brief interpretation of the City of Hradec Králové Magistrate Building. I hope you found time to appreciate the genius of Josef Gočár and the precise work of the castle builders. This building is just one of the many gems this beautiful city offers you. Now, let's invite you to further explore the area. Let yourself be guided by curiosity and discover other hidden details of the castle streets. I wish you a pleasant journey and many new experiences in discovering the history and beauty of Hradec Králové. Goodbye.