Krohův rodinný dům Villa

Welcome to the Brno part Stránice. Right now, you're standing in front of a building that is the real jewel of modern construction. In front of you is the family house of architect George Kroh. If you look at him, you might be interested in his purity, courage, and the way he fits into the surrounding terrain. It's a place where the courage of creating with a practical approach to housing meets. Feel the atmosphere of this place, which in its form still radiates the spirit of the time when people dared dream of a whole new way of life and architecture.

Now let's stop at how this house came into being and why it actually stands here. It's shortly before we entered the 1930s. The construction began in the year nine twenty-eight and was completed in the year nine-thirty-thirty. Jiří Kroha, one of the most important Czech builders of his time, built his personal residence here. It wasn't just an ordinary family building, but it was a manifestation of his own artistic beliefs. At that time in Europe, the desire for a new one, the removal of unnecessary ornaments and the search for truth in material and function ruled. Kroha wanted to create space that would be consistent with modern times, while at the same time giving him peace near nature.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself and to what you see right in front of you. You are facing an example of so-called functionalism. That means the shape of the building matches exactly its purpose. Notice how the house is oriented. The entire layout is focused in a clever way on the Yellow Hill slope, which allows maximum use of light and vision. If you look at the structure, you'll find that the base here is iron concrete. It was this material that made it possible to build more bravely and differently then. An interesting detail, which is not visible at first sight, but is essential for the life of the house, is isolation. The walls and roof terrace are protected by special heraclite plates, which was very modern material for thermal and humidity protection at the time. Take a look at the facade and see how the house works with areas and transitions.

But when we look deeper than just concrete and insulation, we find that this house was much more than a private apartment at the time of its creation. Imagine that there was a collection of art avant-garde in these areas. It was the center of gravity for people who wanted to change the world by art and thinking. Among the walls of this house were people like the poet Vítězslav Nezval, the theorist Karel Teige or linguist Roman Jakobson. Imagine the discussion that was going on here, the controversy about the future of art and the dreams of a new society. It was a space for creative exchange of ideas, where architecture intertwined with literature and philosophy.

And now I'm going to lead you to one interesting thing that shows how much Jiří Kroha has been inserted into its work. Most builders focus only on the exterior design and layout of the rooms, but Kroha moved on. He was personally involved in the entire interior facility of the house. What is most fascinating, however, is that he also brought his painting prowess into the interiors. He created paintings for his house, connecting his role as an architect to the role of painter. So the whole house was basically one big, whole piece of art, where every detail, from the thickness of the wall to the color on the canvas, had its meaning and place.

This exceptional nature of the house was not overlooked even in later years. In the year nine hundred and fifty-eight, the house was officially listed on the list of cultural monuments. This step recognised his immortal contribution to Czech architecture and confirmed that it is a place that we must protect for future generations. It is proof that modern architecture is not only about cold concrete, but about vision, courage and human talent.

Now that you know the story of this house, its creator and the people who hosted it, I suggest you go around it one more time. Feel how the building rests on the slope and how harmonious it is in this environment. Try to imagine what it was like to enter this modern space for the first time in nine thirty years.

Thank you for spending a moment with us at this unique house in the Site. We hope this short trip to the world of functionalism and Jiří Krohy inspired you. Now you can continue to explore the surroundings and discover the other beauty of our city. We wish you a pleasant rest of the day and a pleasant experience from your journey.