dům Jany a Jana Brummelových Family house

Welcome, esteemed visitors, to one of the most interesting parts of our city in South Suburbia. Please stop for a moment, take a breath and focus fully on the building that is now standing right in front of you. You are standing in front of the house of Jana and Jan Brummel, a construction that may at first glance appear to be subtle, but in detail and its history hides a fascinating story of courage, modernity and search for a new identity in the architecture of the twentieth century. Look at the total silhouette of the house and perceive its presence in the street space. It is a place where two distinct ages meet, two different approaches to what home should look like, and it is this contrast that makes this memory so special.

To understand what we are seeing, we need to go back more than a hundred and thirty years together. The original history of this place begins in 1886. Then the Pilsen builder Eduard Kroha brought the first version of the house to the realization. At that time, Pilsen was a city in rapid development, full of energy and ambition, and houses in this area reflected the period spirit of the late nineteenth century. So imagine this street in 1886, with its facades and atmosphere back then. The house was the classic representative of its time at the time, providing security and stability, but in 1929 everything changed fundamentally.

The year 1929 is crucial for this construction. This year, a man whose name is known to anyone interested in world architecture, Adolf Loos, joined the project. He was an architect with a very strong and uncompromising view, who, at that time, radically thought about space and form. The family of merchant Jan Brummel has decided that their house will no longer be just an ordinary apartment, but will be an expression of modern lifestyle. So Loos didn't just come up with minor modifications, but he did a radical reconstruction. If you look at the building now, notice the structure. Adolf Loos designed the superstructure of two whole floors and completely redesigned the interiors. This change was not only a matter of increasing the area, but it was an intellectual operation that made the original house from 1886 a modern work of art.

Now pay attention to the front of the house. Look at his lines and see how the building relates to the surrounding area. Loos was known for his resistance to unnecessary decorations, which he considered unnecessary. In his concept was beauty in purity, authenticity of material and in the functionality of space. When you look at the Brummel house, try to perceive this simplicity, which is actually very complicated to finish. It's an architecture that doesn't scream, but it speaks in a calm and confident voice. It's fascinating to think that under the modern form of 1929, the foundation of Eduardo Kroha is still asleep. It's like a layered story where each layer tells about different centuries and different values.

But who were the people for whom this house was created? The main figures are Jan Brummel and his wife Jana. Jan Brummel was a successful businessman, a man of his time who had sufficient taste and courage to invite such a controversial and respected architect as Loos. Imagine what it must have been like in 1929 when this new, modern style began to appear in the neighborhood of traditional houses. It was basically a declaration of modernity. The story of the house also includes Hedvika Liebsteinová, another person connected to this place, which was part of the social and family context of this house. These people lived here, worked, and made up a history that is today impaled into the walls of the building itself. The house was not just a building piece, it was a living organism in which a business life with family peace intertwined.

Now let's think about why this house is so important today. You may think it's just one of the many houses on the street, but the truth is much deeper. In 2002 this building was officially recognised and its protection started as a real-estate cultural monument of the Czech Republic. That means the state has recognised its irreplaceable value for our national heritage. But the value of the Brummel house goes beyond our borders. Note that the building is registered in the international catalogue of iconic houses. That is truly extraordinary recognition. This catalogue brings together only the most important works of the world architects of the twentieth century, which are also accessible to the public. By being here dům Jany a Jana Brummelových, Pilsen becomes part of the global map of modern architecture. It is a confirmation that in our city there is a space that is from the point of view of world-class design and thinking.

The interesting thing that may interest you is the relationship between the exterior and the interior. While we see a radical change from the outside and the superstructure of the floor, the real treasure is hidden inside. Interiors are considered unique and are the main reason why the house is in the international list of iconic buildings. Adolf Loos applied its theories about space where the internal disposition adapted to the needs of the population, not vice versa. Even if we are standing outside now, try to imagine what it must be like to enter a space where every detail, every horn and every surface has been thought out to serve a man while acting harmonically. It's an architecture that doesn't solve the surface, but it solves the essence of being in space.

When you look at this house today, you see the result of the collaboration of several names. In addition to Eduardo Kroha and Adolf Loose, the name Straňáka appears in connection with the building. Each one of them brought something different into the building, yet they form one whole. It's a reminder that architecture isn't static, but it's evolving. The house from 1886 became a modern palace in 1929 and in 2002 it became a protected monument. It's a journey from practical living through an art experiment to a historical document.

Now, before we say good-bye and you go on, I suggest you go around the building again slowly or look at it from different angles. Feel how the impact of the facade changes depending on the light and how the house is inscribed in the rhythm of the Southern Suburb. Try to imagine the discussions that took place here in 1929 when the neighbors first looked at the radical changes that Loos made in the house. It was probably shocking, bold and incomprehensible to someone, but it is this courage that is why we are here today and why this house is recognized worldwide.

The House of Jana and Jan Brummel shows that modernity is not only about new materials, but above all about new ways of thinking. It's where the Pilsen tradition meets the vision of a world architect. I hope that this short trip to history and architecture has helped you see this building in a new light and that you will take away the sense of respect for the courage of people who wanted to live in the space that has been overtaken by time.

Thank you for your attention and I wish you a pleasant continuation in discovering the beauty and secrets of our city. Now I beg you to enjoy the rest of your walk and pay attention to other details that make up the unique face of the Pilsen Southern Suburb. Goodbye.