Městská spořitelna (Moravské Budějovice) Building

The town savings bank in Moravian Budejovice is a cultural monument located on the southwest edge of Mír Square no. 2. This cubist building was festively opened on 6 January 1927 and in 2006 it obtained the status of cultural monument from the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic. Its history dates back to 1875, when the city founded a money institute which evolved into one of the most important in southwest Moravia.

The creation of the monument is closely linked to the historical context after the First World War, when modern architecture, especially cubism, developed in Czechoslovakia. In 1923, the city of Moravské Budějovice offered the modification of two previously purchased houses to the Prague Artl team, which cooperated with important architects such as Jan Kotěra and Jože Plečnik. Vlastimil Hofman was elected to design the new building of the savings bank. The construction was started in September 1925 under the supervision of the construction contractor Jaroslav Herzán.

Architecturally, the building is built on an almost square floor plan and has three above and one underground floor. The exterior is characterized by a cubist style with a facade made of artificial stone and a wide profile band that breaks the construction. The doors are covered with a roof and balconies are located on the free corners of the first floor. The interior of the entrance hall was preserved by stucco ceiling and cubistically glazed doors, while the staircase decorated with bronze pieces from sculptor Václav Mach in the form of dogs.

The town savings bank belonged to the city that ran the money institution here. After the ceremonial opening in 1927, the building underwent several phases of modernization, especially in the 1980s, when the ground floor operations were modified.

Today, the building is not only a cultural monument, but also a witness to modern architecture and urban development of Moravian Budejovice. Its cubist style and preserved interior elements make it an important destination for every interested person in history. By examining this construction, we can better understand the region's cultural heritage.