Špitálská 3 Tenement house

Karla Schulze House of Business I is an important Art Nouveau building in the centre of Hradec Králové at Špitálská 3. The building was built between 1904 and 1905 by the manufacturer Karel Schulz according to the design of architect Rudolf the German. For its architectural value, it was included in the list of cultural monuments in 1987.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the co-owner of the metal-working factory in Kukřiy Karel Schulz decided to build a new house on the inherited parcel no. 182. He bought the adjacent plot no. 193 and the architect Rudolf approached the Germans with a request to create a uniform facade that closes the whole block and reaches three streets. This created a visual link to the twins. At the beginning of the twentieth century, building and architectural art experienced a boom in Czech countries associated with the advent of the Art Nouveau and in Hradec Králové at this time the modern urban arrangement of the city was formed. The construction of both parts of the house was carried out by the Hradec Construction Company Neklasil and Schmidt. The construction itself began in July 1904 and was completed on 23 August 1905 and in September of the same year the approval procedure followed.

Architect Rudolf Němec designed a decorative Art Nouveau construction. Its typical element is a significant bevelled corner, which is elevated above the crown ledge of the arches and balustradoes and ended with stone ligaments. This corner is decorated with pilasters over three floors. They are finished with stucco wreaths with suspended flaps and ribbons. The floor of the house decor belt rustics, while the upper floors carry rich stucco decoration, especially in fields under windows. The facade headed towards Špital Street is completed by a triangular tympanone extending beyond the neighbouring house. It is supplemented by shallow balconies with forged railing on the first and second floors. Both separate parts of the house have separate entrances, decorated with Art Nouveau stucco plant ornament.

The object owner was Karel Schulz. There were shops on the ground floor of the house, while apartments were set up on the floors. There was one two-bedroom and one three-bedroom apartment on each floor. The layout of these dwellings corresponded rather to the 19th century lifestyle, which was reflected in small bathrooms and the absence of a maid's room.

The interesting thing about building management is that although both parts of the double house are optically one whole, they were each subject to different legal standards. The first part of the house was exempt for 12 years, while the second part for 18 years. The house attracted the attention of the professional public immediately after its completion. It was presented in the prestigious architectural magazine Der Architect, where the authors depicted the facade and interesting superstructure above the crown ledge.

Today, this monument is part of the town building in Hradec Králové. Thanks to its preserved Art Nouveau appearance, it resembles a period of development of modern architecture in the early twentieth century. A tour of the exteriors of this tenement house offers a valuable view of the building development of the city and is worth paying attention to all interested in historical architecture.