Lexova vila Villa

Welcome to Cancer. You're standing in front of a building that tells the story of the turn of the century and the desire for a new, modern expression in architecture. In front of you is Lexova vila, a building that to this day persists as a witness of the time when the old craft met with new directions in art. If you look at her now, you might be interested in her purity and balance. It's not just an ordinary house, it's a materialized image of a particular time.

Let us now stop at how this building was created and who was its creator. The building of the villa took place in the first decade of the twentieth century, namely in the years of a thousand nine hundred eight to a thousand nine hundred ten. At that time, the world was changing, and so was the way people understood beauty and space. The villa wasn't built randomly, but it was meant to be home to a particular person who was František Lexa. Mr. Lexa was not an ordinary citizen, he was a respected painter of landscapes and a professor of local realism. So imagine this house was supposed to be a haven for a man who spent his whole life studying colors, light and nature.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself. If you look closely at the surfaces of the building, you'll notice an interesting contrast. The architect worked here with a combination of various materials. Note the smooth, plastered surfaces, which are alternating with the tiles from the scaffold wall. It is this material that gives the villa its specific character and texture. The whole appearance of the building represents the period of geometric Art Nouveau and Modern. This means that you will not find excessive decorating or unnecessary ornaments, but rather a game with lines, clean surfaces and logical arrangement of elements. It's an architecture that bets on the truth of the material and a clear structure.

But who was behind this project? Whoever designed the vision of the house was the architect Otakar Novotný. Their relationship wasn't just professional. Novotný and Lexa have known each other for a long time, namely from a joint studio in Prague. This personal bond is very important because it allowed the architect to understand exactly the needs of his client. He knew what the painter and professor needed, and he was able to get it into the plans. If you had the opportunity to look inside, you would find that the interior is designed very specifically. The heart of the house is the central staircase hall, which serves as the main crossroads and gives the building an internal order.

It's fascinating to think of two spheres intermingling in these walls. On the one hand there was a professor who raised young generations in a local school, and on the other hand a painter who sought peace and inspiration in the landscape. The villa was where these two roles met. Imagine Lexa returning from teaching in real life home to her space, which was designed to give him maximum comfort for his creative activity.

The interesting thing that can escape you is that this building is today protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic. This recognition came in the year one thousand nine hundred ninety-eight. This means that the state recognised its irreplaceable value not only for Rakovnik, but for the whole country. This is proof that the geometric Art Nouveau, which was perceived as modern and courageous at the time of its creation, has become a timeless value to be protected for future generations.

When you stand before this villa today, see it as a bridge between the past and the present. It's a monument to the friendship of two men, Novotný and Lexy, and to their common taste. It's a building that carries the discipline of a professor and the sensitivity of a painter. Note how the building enters the surroundings and how its material rotation responds to the light of day.

Imagine how in the year a thousand and nine hundred and ten when the construction was completed, it had to affect its neighbors. It was probably one of the most modern buildings around, a symbol of progress and new thinking. Even today, for over a century, we have a sense of stability and aesthetic purity.

Now I leave you to look at the facade of the villa in peace and try to imagine life in a house that was made for artists. Walk slowly around, perceive the atmosphere of this place and consider how much our understanding of beauty has changed since this house was new.

Thank you for spending time with us at Lex's villa. We hope that you are interested in this short trip to history and that you have discovered beauty in the simplicity of geometric shapes. We wish you a pleasant continuation in discovering other Stories of Cancer. Goodbye.