Dům čp. 18 (Zlaté Hory) House

Welcome to the Golden Mountains. Right now, you're standing in Freedom Square, and in front of you is a house with the number 18. It is a building that immediately draws attention to its appearance and gives the whole square special charm. When you look at her like that, you see a walled-up storey object telling the story of many centuries. Note above all the upper part, where the so-called Mansard roof dominates, which gives the house some nobility and stability. The whole house is finished with three-axis facade, which means that in its front wall you will find three rows of windows that rhythmically divide the facade.

Let us now come together to see how this house was formed and how it evolved over time. Even if you see a building today that looks relatively uniform, its roots go much deeper into the past. There is a medieval core under the current walls. Imagine that the foundation of this house was established by about a thousand four hundred. At that time, the city looked completely different and this house was just one of many buildings that formed the heart of the then settlement. After centuries, however, the time has come for a great change. At the beginning of the twentieth century, namely in the year one thousand nine hundred and three, the house underwent a major reconstruction. It is during this period that he has acquired his present form, which you admire today.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself. If you look closely at the details of the facade and the overall composition of the house, you will notice that the building emits a neo-Baroque style. This direction was very popular at the time because it combined older elements with a new sense of luxury and elegance. The whole project of this great reconstruction from the year one thousand nine hundred and three was prepared by architect Rudolf Zelenka. He was the person who decided what the house would look like, what the windows would be and what the character of his roof would be. Today, when you're watching the lines of this house, you see essentially the vision of Rudolf Zelenka, who, in her time, tried to improve the appearance of urban space.

It is fascinating to realize that this house is not just an ordinary building, but it is recognised as an important part of our national values. In the year two thousand and four the house was officially declared a cultural monument of the Czech Republic. This means that the state recognised its historical and architectural value and decided that it was necessary to protect it for future generations. Previously, in the year one thousand nine hundred and ninety-two, the house was included in the declared city monument reserve, which confirms that without this house we would have missed a piece of identity in the Golden Mountains. In the newer times, namely two thousand sixteen years ago, the roof and skylight were repaired to preserve the functionality and beauty of this building even for today's visitors.

When you look at the house, you might wonder why it looks like this and what kind of place it takes in a row of houses. Here we come to one interesting thing that is not visible at first sight, but that changes the perception of space around you. Look at the location of the house. Today, it's a corner house that dominates its location from a point of view. Note, however, that this was not originally a case. House number 18 was an ordinary house in the past, which means it was surrounded by other buildings on both sides. It was only in the second half of the twentieth century that it became corner. It happened after the neighboring object was demolished. This change around the house has fundamentally affected how we perceive it today and how light comes from the square. It is a reminder that the city is a living organism that is constantly changing, even though we are trying to preserve our most valuable treasures.

Now try to connect all these layers of time in your mind. You are standing in front of a building that carries the Middle Ages of the year thousand and four, the neo-Baroque ambitions of the early twentieth century and the modern care of the monuments of our days. It's like reading a history book where every chapter is written in different material and different style. From the foundations of ancient times, to the hands of architect Rudolf Zelenka, to today's cultural heritage status.

Now you can surround the house from different angles, perceive its three-axis facade, and think about how many people have gone through it over the centuries. Feel the atmosphere of this square where history meets the present. I hope this short trip in time has helped you better understand the meaning of house number 18.

I wish you a pleasant further walk through the Golden Mountains. Explore other corners of this beautiful city and be inspired by its history. Goodbye.