In 1913 it was decided that the historical buildings on two narrow adjacent plots between Česká and Veselá Streets would be demolished. The older building on the site of today’s Česká 13 belonged to Matilda Medřická and her children, from whom it was bought by the builder Stanislav Neděla and the engineer Julius Keer in early 1913. The historical building at Česká 15 was owned by Anna Vlková, who was also the investor for the new building. The two new adjoining apartment buildings were constructed in 1913 by Stanislav Neděla.
During the era’s construction boom, it was common practice for builders or construction companies to draft technical designs and floor plans themselves while commissioning artistic designs for the facades from private architects. It is very likely that these buildings’ facades were designed by Bohumír Čermák, who brought elements of Viennese modernism to Brno. Although his authorship has yet to be confirmed by primary sources, it can be inferred from formal comparisons to other contemporary works by Čermák.
The four-storey building at Česká 13 spans the full block between Česká and Veselá, with elevations on both roughly parallel streets. The symmetrical triple-bay elevation on Česká Street is vertically dominated by tall pilaster strips above the ground floor. A centrally placed three-sided oriel joins the first and second floors and is topped by a balcony on the third floor. Additionally, with their convex shape, the apron walls on the two lateral window bays feel like oriels as well. A triangular attic gable with fluted pilasters and an arched window is set on top of an overhanging crown cornice. Decorative facade elements have been limited to the small sculptural lion heads on the second-floor apron walls, the stylized flower vases between the third-floor windows and the delicate pearl bead moulding. The architect paid close attention to the subtle wrought-iron elements such as the balcony railing with a floral motif and the low railings in front of the windows. The facade of the building at Česká 15 is similar to that of its neighbour. The hypothesis that it is the work of the same architect is based on its overall similar composition and identical use of details. The central, slightly convex oriel is flanked by distinctive, rounded fluted pilasters whose lower part is decorated with monumental sculptural cartouches with hanging vegetation. Both buildings’ architectural form fits perfectly into Čermák’s pre-war oeuvre and reflects the aesthetics of Otto Wagner’s new architecture. With its embrace of simplicity and functionality, it contrasts with the exuberant decorativeness of late historicism. Čermák’s work is characterized by the pure forms of modern architecture, combined with a specific subtle decorativeness and the frequent use of floral motifs. Typical elements which he used on other buildings in Brno include central oriels and convex apron walls, as well as lion mascarons, which he also used on the facade of the building at Lidická 16 (B123). The stylized flowers and twisting, volute-like tendrils found on his wrought-iron elements are also present in the stuccowork and metal elements on the Workers’ Accident Insurance Institute on Koliště Street (B154).
The legendary Brno bookshop of Barvič & Novotný moved into the ground-floor premises of Česká 13 upon the building’s completion, where it remains to this day. Founded by Josef Barvič in 1883 and originally located at Česká 4, it was Brno’s first Czech-language bookshop. Josef Novotný initially apprenticed with Barvič, went on to become a partner in 1909 and, subsequently, the owner of the company and of the building at Česká 13. In addition to running the bookshop, Novotný was also a publisher, founded a picture gallery (1924), organized concerts by the violin virtuoso Jan Kubelík and provided support for poor students.
The likelihood of Čermák’s authorship is corroborated by other historical circumstances. In the architect’s estate, there is mention of a 1933 design for an addition to the building at Česká 13. And in 1931, Čermák apparently put together a proposal for a remodel of Josef Novotný’s villa. It is quite probable that, for these undertakings, Novotný would have turned to a proven architect with whom he had prior experience.
When the communist regime took power in 1948, the company was nationalized. Josef Novotný was arrested in the summer of 1951 for supposed ‘anti-state’ activities and died a year after his release. After the Velvet Revolution, the bookshop was returned to the ownership of Novotný’s wife Helena. In 2013, the family bookshop celebrated 130 years of existence, but soon afterwards Novotný’s descendants sold it to the Kanzelsberger chain of bookshops.
Pavla Cenková
