Vila čp. 143 Villa

Welcome to Dobřichovice. You are standing in front of just one of the most important and beautiful places in this area, before a villa with the number hundred forty-three, which many know under the name of Frank's villa. Stop for a moment, take a breath, and just feel the building that stands before you. It's a one-story residential house that carries the spirit of the early 20th century. If you look at it, you might see it as calm, elegance and a certain sense of cosy, which was typical of the summer residence of Prague's intelligence. It is a place where personal comfort has been combined with high art, and it is this connection we will be talking about today.

Let us now look at how this building was built and in what context it was built. It was a short but very intense process that took place in the years of tyres nine hundred and three to tyres nine hundred and four. The villa was built as a summer residence for Mr Jaroslav Franta, who was a respected gynecologist in Prague. Imagine the time, turn of the century, when it was almost obvious for successful doctors, lawyers and experts from the capital to seek refuge in nature. Prague was a fast-growing city at that time, full of noise and dust, and therefore the richer layers pulled into the surrounding villages to find peace, clean air and space for regeneration. Dobřichovice was the ideal choice for such purposes, and Mr Franta had the space created here to be his personal paradise.

Now pay full attention to the appearance of the house itself. What you see before you is not just an ordinary house, but the work of one of the most important Czech architects of his time, Kamil Hilbert. Look at the overall composition of the building. Hilbert here created a fascinating mix of different styles, which at that time required great courage and mastery. Notice how the elements of history and Art Nouveau intersect in the building. The Art Nouveau was then a very modern direction, which emphasized organic shapes, decorativeness and the effort to combine art with everyday life. Historism then followed past epochs, giving the house some seriousness and stability.

At the same time, we will find here very interesting influences of folk architecture, which gives the house some domestic well-being and solid anchoring in the local environment. Kamil Hilbert was also inspired in the design by English rural houses, which is evident in the overall nature of the construction and how it naturally fits into the surrounding landscape. And if you think about the essentials, you'll see traces of neo-gothic and neo-Renaissance. It is a truly rich cocktail of architectural currents that do not lie here but complement each other. Another very characteristic feature that you can perceive when you go around the house is a very fragmented plan. The building is not a simple square or rectangle, but its shape is diverse and fragmented, which creates a game of light and shadow on the facade and gives the villa both dynamics and depth.

When we think about Kamil Hilbert, it's fascinating to realize in what huge contrast this man was in. At the time he designed this cozy summer villa in Dobřichovice, he also worked on one of the largest and most demanding projects in our history - the completion of the St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague. Imagine the incredible spread in scale and emotion. On the one hand the monumental, noble cathedral, which was supposed to express national pride, faith and eternity, and on the other hand this private, intimate space for one doctor's family rest. Hilberta probably enjoyed this diversity at work and allowed him to express various aspects of his talent - from the ability to create monumental units to the ability to design detailed and human spaces.

In addition to Franta and architect Hilbert, other personalities like Láďa Novák and Jan Kastner are associated with this place. Although their role may not be so visible in the walls themselves, their presence in the history of this house helps to create an overall picture of the social life that once took place here. Imagine summer evenings, calls to the patio, visits to friends and intellectual discussions that have certainly taken place in these areas. The villa was not only a place for sleep, but a centre of social intercourse for the people who formed the society's elite.

Perhaps you are now wondering why this villa is so valued today and why it is in our list of monuments. It's not just her aesthetic beauty, it's that she's an authentic witness to her time. Its value was officially recognized in the year nine hundred fifty-eight, when the villa was registered as a cultural monument. This means that the state has acknowledged that this house has an irreplaceable value for our history and architecture. It's basically a book of stone and wood that tells us about the ambitions, tastes and lifestyle of people from the beginning of the last century. It's proof of how housing was approached at the time and the role that harmony with the environment played in a man's life.

An interesting question that you can think about is how the house was actually lived. Each corner, every end of the building and every window offered a different view of the garden and a different atmosphere in the interior. Kamil Hilbert wanted not only to create a living machine here, but a space that would promote peace and contemplation in complete harmony with the surrounding nature. It is a fascinating idea that one person could change from planning the vaults of the largest temple of the country to planning the placement of rooms in the summer house in Dobřichovice.

Now that you know the story of Frank's villa, I suggest you go around it one more time. Feel the details of her appearance, think about the people who spent their summer days here, and imagine how there was laughter here over a century ago, how gardens smelled, and how there were conversations about science, medicine and art. Note how the building changes depending on which side you're looking at and how the shape of the building adapts to the terrain.

I hope that this short journey into history has attracted you and that you have been able to imagine the atmosphere of the summer residence from the beginning of the twentieth century. Dobřichovice has up their sleeve yet many other secrets and beautiful corners that await their discovery. We wish you a pleasant continuation in your exploration of this beautiful village and we hope that your visit to Franta's villa inspired you to further interest in our architecture. Thank you for your attention and goodbye.