Rodinné domy Marie Steyskalové 48–58 House

Welcome to the Brno district of Žabovřesky. Right now, you're standing in front of a number of houses on Marie Steyskal Street, namely 48 to 58. Look at these buildings in front of you. The first impression of them is a sense of order, purity and thought-out. You see a group of six three-story family houses lined up in a harmonious line. It's obviously a space that was supposed to be a cozy home, yet you feel the spirit of modernity and progress that was in it at the beginning of the last century. Now let's stop a little bit by how these houses were built and at what time they appeared in the city space. To understand their meaning, we have to go back 100 years. In the year one thousand and nineteen, the municipality of Žabovřesky joined the Great Brno. This has brought new impetus to the development of the whole area. The city started to grow, people were looking for new places to live and the surroundings of Minsk Street became the ideal place to create a new residential area. It is in this context, in the second half of the twentieth century, that a project that you admire today has emerged. The architect Alois Kuba was the author of these structures. His job was to design housing that would fit the needs of the middle class of the first republic. At that time, the understanding of what a modern home was was changing. It was not only the representative facades, but especially the practical, light and efficient use of space. The construction of these villas began in the year one thousand nine hundred twenty-six and one year later, in the year one thousand nine hundred twenty-seven, the houses in this street were completed. Now pay attention to the architecture itself. Note that this is called functionalism. This is a style that places emphasis on the function of the building before its decoration. Look at the front of the house. They're clean, without needless embellishment, which at that time meant courage and modern thinking. Notice how the houses stand right next to each other. They're straight villas, which means they share common walls. It was not just an architectural decision at the time, but a very practical step. The construction on narrow areas with large walls made it possible to save material costs significantly while improving the thermal insulation of houses, as neighbouring buildings protected each other from cold and wind. Now, if you look from the street to the houses, notice the space that separates them from the road. It's a front yard. This detail is very important because it reflected the then ideal of the English garden city. The goal was to create a balance between urban life and nature. The front yard was supposed to be a small piece of green, which is the transition between the public area of the street and the privacy of the family home. Imagine how flowers bloomed here decades ago and the inhabitants spent a quiet afternoon there. Even though we don't know the specific names of the personalities that lived in these houses, we can imagine the people for which these villas were intended. They were middle class people, perhaps officials, businessmen, or intellectuals, who in the period of the first republic were looking for a modern and affordable way of living. These houses were a symbol of a new era, a symbol of stability and faith in the future development of Brno. The interesting thing that may surprise you is the recognition of what these buildings gained in later years. Although they are basically ordinary family houses, their architectural value is so high that in the year one thousand and nine hundred eighty-eight the facade of these houses was listed in the list of real cultural monuments. This means that the state has recognised that these facades are an important part of our heritage and must be protected for future generations. It is fascinating that the simplicity and functionality that Alois Kuba proposed almost a century ago is now perceived as true art. Stop for a moment and feel the atmosphere of this place. Imagine how the city around them was changing, how the traffic was changing, how people were changing, but these houses remained witnesses to their times. They are a reminder of a time when modern architecture has tried to solve the issue of housing for more people without losing human dimension and aesthetic value. Now that you've looked at these unique row villas, I suggest you continue to explore around the Oaks. Note how this space connects to other parts of the city and look for further traces of functional architecture that left such a deep trail in Brno. Thank you for spending time with us at Marie Steyskal's house. We hope you appreciate the beauty in the simplicity and practicality of these structures. We wish you a pleasant further journey and many new discoveries in our beautiful city. Goodbye.