Functionalist Architecture in Brno (Self Guided), Brno
After Czechoslovakia got its independence in 1918, Brno became the second largest city in the country, developing rapidly both economically and politically. The construction sector had also picked up, transforming the city into one of the leading centers of functionalist architecture in Central Europe.
In the wake of World War I, an international functionalist architecture movement emerged as part of the social and political movements of Europe after the devastating world war. The ideas were largely inspired by the need to build a new and better world for the people. In this respect, functionalist architecture is often linked with the movement of socialism. Functionalist architectural design focuses solely on the building's purpose and function.
Follow this self-guided walking tour to explore the best examples of functionalist architecture in the city center of Brno.
In the wake of World War I, an international functionalist architecture movement emerged as part of the social and political movements of Europe after the devastating world war. The ideas were largely inspired by the need to build a new and better world for the people. In this respect, functionalist architecture is often linked with the movement of socialism. Functionalist architectural design focuses solely on the building's purpose and function.
Follow this self-guided walking tour to explore the best examples of functionalist architecture in the city center of Brno.
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Functionalist Architecture in Brno Map
Guide Name: Functionalist Architecture in Brno
Guide Location: Czech Republic » Brno (See other walking tours in Brno)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 9
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Author: JohnB
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
Guide Location: Czech Republic » Brno (See other walking tours in Brno)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
# of Attractions: 9
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.5 Km or 0.9 Miles
Author: JohnB
Sight(s) Featured in This Guide:
- Convalaria Building
- Hotel Avion
- Moravian Bank
- Alfa Palace
- Bata Building
- Moravian Palace
- V. Wittreicha and H. Deutsche
- Čedok Building
- Railway Post Office
1) Convalaria Building
The Convalaria Building is yet another design of the architect Oskar Poříska. It got its name from the perfume shop that was originally located on the ground floor. Both façades of the building represent the typical overview of a commercial building of functionalist architecture – big windows and straight angles.
2) Hotel Avion
Hotel Avion is the first postwar hotel in Brno and it represents one of the many masterpieces scattered around the city of functionalist architect Bohuslav Fuchs. The building's location on Seska street makes it one the narrowest hotels in Europe. The hotel is still operating today, welcoming all its visitors to this magnificent piece of architectural art.
3) Moravian Bank
Moravian Bank building is located on the famous Liberty square, right in the heart of the city. Its design is a result of the work of two functionalist architects - Bohuslav Fuchs and Arnošt Wiesner. The general design of the building is simple and plain, but yet it serves perfectly for the purpose for which it has been built. Nowadays the building is occupied by the Commercial Bank of Brno.
4) Alfa Palace
This magnificent building is located on the corner of Poštovské and Jánské street. The building's project was created in 1930 by local functionalist architect, Bohuslav Fuchs. The building has an eight-storey, reinforced, concrete frame structure, plain angles and a flat roof. There is an indoor mall and galleries located on the first floor.
5) Bata Building
The Bata Building (Dům Služeb Baťa) was built between 1930-1931 for the Bata Shoe Company and was designed by Vladimir Karfík. The original plan was to have 22 floors and thus it would have been one of the first skyscrapers in Brno and one the tallest buildings in the former Czechoslovakia. But due to the unstable soil the project has been dropped, and construction stopped on the eighth floor. Today the building houses the offices of various organizations.
6) Moravian Palace
Palace Moravia (Palác Morava) in Brno was built over by Arnošt Wiesner by a slightly different complex of buildings. He had to face not only ground floor difficult parcel but also geologically poor sub-soil. During the design, he also cooperated with structural engineer Jaroslav Valenta. Thanks to the genial natural lighting in the top area of the building, Wiesner dedicated this part to residential apartments. A contrast of reinforced concrete and raw brickwork is also very interesting. Later on, Wiesner linked the building of Moravská zemská životní pojišťovna (Moravian Life Insurance Company) to the whole construction. The project was finally completed in 1936.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.
7) V. Wittreicha and H. Deutsche
The building of V. Wittreicha and H. Deutsche is a residential building with a commercial ground floor built in the late 1920s for the German merchants. The architect of the design was Otto Eisler, who got inspired by German architecture while he was studying at the Deutsche Technische Hochschule in Brno. The commercial ground floor is visually separated by a distinct horizontal and exposed structure.
8) Čedok Building
The building of the Čedok was designed by functionalist architect O. Poriska in the late 1920s. The initial purpose of the building was to house the headquarters of the Exhibition of Contemporary Culture in Czechoslovakia. The exterior of the building is dominated by the reinforced, concrete wall, used for the first time in Brno to execute the outstanding semicircular corner.
9) Railway Post Office
The Railway Post Office Building is another example of outstanding, functionalist architecture executed by Bohuslav Fuchs, a Czech architect, town planner and leading representative of the Czech Modernism and functionalism school of Brno. The construction was built on the grounds of a former castle. Nowadays the venue serves as the Post Office at the Brno railway station.
Walking Tours in Brno, Czech Republic
Create Your Own Walk in Brno
Creating your own self-guided walk in Brno is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Brno Introduction Walking Tour
Brno is the second-largest city in the Czech Republic. Located in the South Moravian Region, it is the center of Czech's judiciary and the former capital of Moravia.
Brno is known for its exhibition center, one of the largest in Europe. It is also known for its international fireworks competition, Fire of Brno. The long history of fireworks and pyrotechnics are seen in the Spilberk Castle... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Brno is known for its exhibition center, one of the largest in Europe. It is also known for its international fireworks competition, Fire of Brno. The long history of fireworks and pyrotechnics are seen in the Spilberk Castle... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
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