Teachers’ Houses at Old Town

In the vicinity of the brutalist Intercontinental Hotel, in Eliška Krásnohorská and Bílkova streets, lies a complex of Cubist houses often referred to as the last great Cubism in Prague. They were built at the initiative of the Cooperative for the Construction of Teachers’ Houses, and the architect behind them was Otakar Novotný, a student of Jan Kotěra. Novotný is known for the nearby Štenc House, inspired by Dutch architecture, as well as the functionalist Mánes Building. The complex in Bílkova consists of two terraced houses and one corner house. All the buildings have four floors, with a fifth attic floor topped with gables in diamond and triangular shapes. The dynamic elements of the facade, along with its unconventional dual-color scheme, place the ensemble in the late Cubist period. In addition to the facade, smaller details such as discreetly designed gutters and portals with Cubist soffits and entrance grilles also catch the eye.