Dům čp. 117 Zborovská ulice Tenement house

Welcome to Zborovska Street on the Lesser Side. Right now, you're standing in front of a house with a number hundred and seventeen, welcoming you in its rebellious and elegant form. If you look at it, you'll see a four-story building that absorbed the spirit of ancient times, but it also carries the energy of the end of the foreign century. It is a house that was created to serve as a rental space, a place where different people found their home who wanted to live in the heart of Prague.

Now let's stop at how this house actually came into being. Imagine Prague in the 1980s. The city is developing, changing, and the way we build. It was during this period, namely between a thousand and eight hundred eighty-six and a thousand eight hundred eighty-seven, that this building was taken out of the plans into reality. Two talented architects, Jan Zeyer and Viktor Skůčik are responsible for its creation. These two men wanted to create something that would fit into the historical context of the Little Party, but would also alter the modern needs of the time.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself. Look carefully at the front of the house. What you see is a style called a neo-Renaissance. It's basically a new view of Renaissance elements that were popular much earlier. In this case the house is very strongly influenced by the concept that Antonín Wiehl, an important figure of Czech architecture, advocated. Note that the shapes of the facade are designed to resemble the Czech Renaissance from the 16th century. It's a fascinating time game. Architects tried to create a sense of stability and tradition that accompanied the golden age of Czech construction. If you look at the neighboring house, you will notice that both buildings have a very similar appearance, which creates a harmonious whole in the street and a sense of unity.

When we think about the personalities involved in this place, we have to mention Antonín Wiehl. Although he did not design his home directly, his vision and style are deeply penned here. Jan Zeyer and Viktor Skůčik did not work in vacuum, but drew on the best patterns of their time. They wanted the house to look noble, but at the same time to remain functional as a rental object. It is a beautiful example of how the need to live in Prague combined with the desire for beauty and historical continuity.

And now we come to the part that may interest you the most. Let's look at the details that are not visible at first sight, but that form the soul of this house. Did you know that the project of this house wasn't invented in the Prague studio? Architects were looking for inspiration in other cities. In particular, this project was inspired by Mrs Alesch's house in Prachatice. It is a fascinating idea that the appearance of the building here, in the centre of Prague's Mala Party, has its roots in southern Bohemia. This shows how much the then creationinspired regional architecture to create something unique.

Another interesting detail is the original decoration. If you could go back in time to a thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven, you would see colored sgraffiti on the facade. Sgraffiti is a wall decoration technique in which plaster layers are removed to create patterns. In this case it was a motif from Czech Renaissance buildings. But what is really unusual about this house is that the authors used imaginary decorations here. This means that they did not follow strictly the copying of existing patterns, but they created their own idea of what Renaissance decoration should look like. Unlike other works here, Zeyer and Skučik experimented with imagination and creativity, making the house a unique piece of Prague construction.

Now, if you look at the building as a whole again, try to imagine all the people who lived on these four floors over the last hundred and thirty years. How many stories have happened here, how many conversations have been heard in the windows with a view to Zborovska Street. This house is not just a pile of bricks and plaster, it's a witness to the transformation of our city. From the era of the blooming of the Neo-Renaissance to the World War I to the days of your passing.

Feel the atmosphere of this place. Malá Strana has its specific energy, and houses like this define it. These are silent monuments that tell us about the ambitions of architects, the influence of regional models from Prachatic and the desire to return to the city the beauty of the sixteenth century in a new garment.

Now that you know what's behind the view of house number one-seventeen, I suggest you stay for a while and watch the light bounce from the facade. Note the simple but yet dignified line of the building that so elegantly complements its neighbor's sister. It's the perfect moment for a short stop in today's rush world.

Let us now slowly conclude this brief chapter from the history of the Little Party. I hope that this view of the Neo-Renaissance rental house enriched you and that when you look at similar buildings in Prague you will now look for clues of inspiration from other cities or details that talk about the imagination of their creators.

I invite you to another walk through the streets of this beautiful neighborhood. Discover other hidden corners, note the details on the facades and be guided by the history that is present at every step. Thank you for your attention and I wish you a wonderful rest of the day in Prague. Goodbye.