Volmanova vila (Čelákovice) Villa

Welcome to Celakovice. Right now, you're standing in front of a building that is the real jewel of the interwar era. In front of you is Volman's villa, a building that immediately draws attention to its appearance. When you look at it, you're probably interested in its purity, its bold lines, and the sense of lightness that radiates from it. It's not just an ordinary house, but the embodiment of one of the most important architectural currents of the twentieth century. Feel its overall nature and atmosphere of a place that will carry you back to a time when humanity has moved away from old customs and began to look for a whole new way to live and build.

Let us now stop at how this building was created and who was its creator. It's the story of ambition, modern thinking and desire for quality. The villa was built in the years of a thousand nine hundred thirty-eight to a thousand nine hundred thirty-nine. At that time, this area was on the move, and the local manufacturer Josef Volman was looking for housing that matched his position and perception of the world. Josef Volman was not only an entrepreneur, but a man who wanted to leave a trail in Čelákovice in the form of something really modern. It was for him that this building was designed as a family residence, which was supposed to be the peak of the construction at the time.

Now if you look at the actual design of the building, pay attention to its style. You are facing one of the best examples of Czech functionalism. What does that even mean in practice? Look at the facade and see how logic and purpose prevail here. Funktionalism says that the form must follow the function. Here you will not find unnecessary ornaments that just fill the role of decoration. Instead, you see clean surfaces and geometric precision. The architects Jiří Štursa and Karel Janů who designed this project were strongly inspired by the ideas of the famous Swiss-French master named Le Corbusier. He promoted the modern principles of living, which were to be healthy, light and practical. This villa is a synthesis of European modernity, which brought new standards of space and light into the Czech environment.

Notice how the building fits into its surroundings and how its overall composition works. Even though you are now looking at the outer part, remember that each line has been carefully thought out to serve the people who lived in it. The architects of Štursa and Jana were able to create a space that was very brave for its time. At that time, shortly before the outbreak of the second world conflict, it was so radically modern to build in a small town. It was a show of courage and faith in progress.

Now let's think about the personalities we connect to this place. The first is already mentioned Josef Volman. Imagine him as a man who, in the year one thousand nine hundred thirty-nine, entered a house that looked like a future. He was a man of success who wanted to surround his family with the best architecture he could offer at the time. The second character, though absent physically, is Le Corbusier. Although he did not personally build in Čelákovice, his spirit is present in every corner of this villa. His theories about modern housing here found their particular form. It is fascinating how ideas from the great European centres have come to this point and have been applied with such precision.

Now I want to take you to something that may not be visible at first glance, but it is a very interesting piece of the history of this house. Every building has a life, and Volman's villa has gone through different stages over the decades. You might expect that only owners or collectors have lived here since the beginning. But the truth is different, and it may surprise you. From the end of World War II until the early 1990s, this building had a mother's school. Imagine the contrast. In the premises that were designed as the peak of modern luxury and architecture for the factory, ten years of laughter and playfulness of young children spread. It is a strange and beautiful idea that this space became a home for the smallest inhabitants of the city before it returned to its original identity.

This house, however, did not end the constant struggle for its form. In order to admire the villa today in such perfect condition, it took a great deal of effort. The total reconstruction of the complex was completed in the year two thousand fifteen. Thanks to this, the building is now preserved in its Ursprung glory and can serve as a private home museum. It is a real jewel, which was recognized also at state level because it is registered as a real cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

In the year two thousand twenty a monograph was published, which describes in detail this very jewel of interwar architecture. It is proof that this building is not only a local unique, but it is of importance to the whole country. And if you're more interested in this architecture, I have good news for you. In the year two thousand twenty-two the tour circuit was opened and the villa joined the Iconic Houses project, a group of iconic houses that represent the top of the world's architecture. This means that Volman's villa stands in line with the most important modern buildings around the world.

Now that you know the story of this house, I suggest you go around it again slowly. Feel the contrast between the purity of the functionalist lines and the surrounding landscape. Try to imagine how they lived in these premises 80 years ago and how children played in them at the time of kindergarten. This villa is a bridge between the past and the future, between the personal story of one person and the great architectural currents of the entire continent.

I wish you the rest of the tour. If you have the opportunity, I recommend to join the tour circuit and explore the inner spaces where modern thinking meets history in every detail. Thank you for your attention and enjoy your stay in Čelákovice.