Kytlicova vila Villa

Welcome to Prague's Dejvice. You are standing in front of a building that, both in its form and location, attracts the attention of everyone who passes by it. In front of you is Kytlicova vila, a three-storey family house that carries the spirit of the time when Prague was becoming a modern metropolis. The first impression of this building is very strong, mainly due to its bold position. If you look carefully, you will see that the house is not just laid on the property, but you perceive its dynamic relationship with the surrounding terrain.

Let us now stop at how this building was built and in what context it was built. Let us move in time to the year one thousand nine hundred thirty-three. Just this year the completion of the villa was completed. But it was not a random construction, but a carefully thought-out project designed for a doctor of the law of Karl Kytlice. However, who was the author of this proposal is crucial to architecture lovers. The project was signed by Josef Gočár, one of the most important Czech architects of his time. Gočár was a master who could combine a practical function with an aesthetic value, and in this house it is known at every step.

Now, if you look at the overall form of the house, notice how much it matches the contemporary spirit. The architecture of the villa is an important example of functionalism. This means that there is nothing unnecessarily added for decoration, but each element has a clear purpose. Now pay attention to exactly where the villa is located. You're standing near Odada Baba. It is true that the villa itself was not part of this famous exhibition colony, but its neighbourhood with it is very symbolic. The memory of the establishment of a model colony of family houses around the villa dates back to a thousand nine hundred twenty-eight, while the first houses in the colony itself were completed one year after Kytlico's villa, namely in a thousand nine hundred thirty-four. This area was the real laboratory of modern housing at the time.

Now look at the way the house is solved in relation to the terrain. That is perhaps the most interesting detail of the entire building. Note that the villa is standing over a steep slope. It was this position that was a challenge for the architect, but he made brilliant use of it. If you focus on the south facade, you'll see it's on the pillar. Why did Gochar do it? This solution created a very practical covered passage that leads from the garage directly to the entrance to the house. It is an elegant solution that shows how the architect managed to work with the natural obstacles of the landscape and turn them into a useful element of the house.

This architectural move with pillars is not only about practicality, but also about feeling light. The house floats so well over the terrain. And thanks to this location above the hill, the villa offers something very valuable in Prague, a panoramic view of the whole city. Imagine how people must feel when they look at the roofs of Prague from the windows in the upper floors. It's a view that connects the privacy of a family home with openness to the whole city.

When we think about the people who were connected to this place, first of all comes Karel Kytlic. For him, this villa was home, a place of peace and representation. It's fascinating to see the fate of such properties change along with the history of our state. After a year of a thousand and nine hundred and fifty, there was a period of government. There were significant changes in the use of real estate in Prague at the time, which probably affected this villa as well. Many private houses were nationalized or used for purposes other than those originally built.

However, the story of the villa has a happy resolution. With the coming of the year a thousand nine hundred and ninety, there was a return to private property. The villa has returned to the care of the family, which is the best possible option for historical monuments. Family care often means a much deeper connection to the house and an attempt to keep it in its original state than when the building is managed by an anonymous office.

Let's stop at one interesting thing that will help you see the building in a broader context. The functionalism represented by this villa was not just about concrete and clean lines. It was a lifestyle. It was a belief that a well-designed space could improve the quality of human life. In Kytlico's villa, you can see it in how the architect worked with light and air. Notice how the house is oriented so that the maximum light penetrates the inner space. This was a revolutionary approach at the time, replacing dark corridors and small rooms with large windows and air disposition.

Now, if you look again at the overall composition of the house, try to imagine how this building must have worked in the year one thousand nine hundred thirty-three between the then even less built Dejvicemi. It must have been a real architectural bomb, a symbol of modernity and progress. Josef Gočár has shown here that the modern house may not be boring or cold, but may be in harmony with the nature and terrain on which it stands.

Let's sum up the most important thing. Kytlicova vila is not just an ordinary family house. It is a monument to functionalism, proof of the courage of architect Josef Gočár and testimonies about the changes of Prague in the last century. From its inception to the state administration period to current family care, it tells us a story about how people in Prague built their dreams of ideal housing.

Now you can go around the building in peace and watch from different angles how its silhouette changes depending on where you're standing. Feel the atmosphere of this place where the quiet residential district meets the bold architecture of the last century. If you are interested in this part of Dejvice, I recommend that you go further towards Osad Baba, where you will see other fascinating examples of then modernism.

Thank you for your attention and I wish you a pleasant continued tour of these beautiful Prague streets. I hope Kytlicova vila inspired you to pay more attention to the details of the architecture surrounding us. Goodbye.