Dům Radost House

Welcome to the heart of Žizkov. You are standing in front of a building that, both height and height, stands out of the surrounding building and immediately attracts the attention of anyone passing by it. Look up and perceive its monumental form. In front of you is Dům Radost, a building that, at the time of its creation, provided a whole new view of what urban architecture in Prague might look like. It is a place where history meets with bold access to space and where every detail tells the story of the ambitions of the times in which it originated.

Let us now return together in time by almost 90 years. It's one thousand nine hundred and thirty-four. There is a huge expansion of modern construction in Prague at that time, and something quite new is growing up here, in the place where the Prague Municipal Gas Plant once housed. The building was originally built as the headquarters of the General Pension Institute. At that time it was a project of enormous importance, which was supposed to serve as an administrative centre. Two talented creators, Karel Honzík and Josef Havlíček are responsible for its creation. Their aim was to create a space that was effective, modern and also representative.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself and to what you see right in front of you. Notice the clean lines and the absence of unnecessary ornaments, which is typical of a style called functionalism. The main feature that makes this building unique is its height. It is the very first Prague high-rise building with 65 meters. By the time it was finished, it must have been absolutely fascinating and probably seen from many remote parts of the city. If you look at the surface of the walls, notice the light ceramic plates that form the facade. It is this material that is so characteristic that the locals invented a funny folk nickname for the building called the tiling house. It's kind of a little appreciation for the purity and light tone of the material that gives the building its specific character.

When we think about what a building looks like from the outside, it's interesting to think about what's inside. Even if you're standing outside, imagine the space inside. The architects chose a very unusual ground plan. This shape was not chosen randomly, but was to ensure the best use of space and enough light for all rooms. Seven hundred offices were created here in the original planned layout. Imagine the amount of people who worked here during the flowering season, thousands of documents that wandered here and the energy that filled this space. Nowadays, the building is no longer merely an office. Currently there is a combination of offices, apartments and business premises, which shows how the building has adapted to the new times and needs of the Prague people.

Let us now look at how the fate of this house changed over the decades. After its creation in the year one thousand nine hundred thirty-four, the building went through various stages. In the year one thousand nine hundred fifty one, the building was assigned to the Czechoslovak trade unions, which meant a change in who made the decisions and how the premises were used. For years, it served as the center of union life. The break came only much later, in the year two thousand eighteen, when the house was sold to the company House Žižkov. And in the year two thousand nineteen, the construction was given its current, very optimistic name Dům Radost. It is a beautiful ending to a long journey from the Institute to the trade unions to private ownership under a name that gives rise to positive feelings.

Now I want to take you to a secret that lies deep beneath your feet. While you look up at the height of the building, a different story took place beneath the ground. When building a house in the 1930s, workers came across something unexpected. The remains of Turkey's old fountain were rediscovered in the country. It is a fascinating contrast that in a place where today stands a modern height building made of ceramic plates, once stood an old fountain that served people to drink. It is a reminder that Prague is a city of layers, where modern concrete and ceramics often cover traces of long forgotten elements of the old city.

When you watch Dům Radost today, feel it as a symbol of courage. The courage of architects who dared to build high at a time when it was not common, and the courage of a city that was changing and growing. This building is not just a pile of material, but a living witness to the history of Zizkov. From the gas company, to the pension institution and the union, to today's combination of housing and work. It is a place that survived changes in modes and changes in modes in architecture and still stands as a dominant part of Prague.

Imagine how people must have felt in the year one thousand nine hundred and thirty-four when they first went to the floor of this 50-foot building. They probably felt they saw the future. Today, high-rise buildings are a normal part of the urban landscape, but right here, at this point, one of the first ambitions in our capital began.

Thank you for stopping by the House of Joy. I hope you're interested in this short trip to history and architecture and that you will be looking at this building with a new acquaintance. Now invited to further explore the beautiful Zizkov. Walk the surrounding streets, perceive the atmosphere of this neighborhood and discover the other hidden details the city offers. I wish you a pleasant journey and a beautiful day in Prague. Goodbye.