Emil Králíček
Emil Králíček (born 1877 in Český Brod - died 1930 in Prague)
Emil Králíček is known especially by experts and historians of architecture who are fully aware of his impact on the contemporary „face“ of Prague.
Králíček started his career at the beginning of the XX. century and designed his buildings in the styles of art nouveau, geometric modernism, cubism, classical styles and also used an exclusively individualist aproach to his projects. During the period between 1912 – 1913 he was responsible for remarkable and unique buildings in the style of Czech cubism , they belong to the golden of central european architecture. Undoubtedly he can be considered the equal of Jan Kotěra, Josip Plečnik and Josef Gočár.
At the beginning of his professional career he worked in the studio of professor A.Balšánek in Prague (1870 – 1900) and afterwards in the studio of Josef Maria Olbrich in Darmstadt (Germany). There he spent much of his time with the innvator and progressive architect Matěj Blecha. Starting in the position of draftsman he eventually became a chief project manager of the company and developed a close relationship with the sculptors A. Waigant, K.Pavlík and A. Odehnal. His buildings embrace the styles of geometric art nouveau, modernism and cubism.
After 1920 he founded his own studio and building company together with Mr. R. Šolc. It existed even after his death (suicide in 1930) and helped mould the modern constructivist style. After February 1948 when the communists seized power the company was nationalized and incorporated into the state sector heralding it’s end.
Selection of Prague buildings:
- 1904 – 1905 Private house of the constructor M. Blecha, Masarykovo nábřeží č.p. 235
- 1904 Block of flats, Senovážné sq. no. 1984, 1986
- 1905 St. Vojtěch church, Zenklova street
- 1905 Annex of Maisel synagogue
- 1906 Block of flats Salvátorská st. no: 1067
- 1907 – 1908 Česká poliklinika {Czech medical centre}, Myslíkova st. no: 208
- 1907 – 1908 Politika Palace, Václavské sq. no: 836
- 1908 – 1909 Villa Kraus, Na Zátorce no: 289
- 1909 – 1910 Hotel Zlatá Husa, Václavské sq. no:839
- 1909 – 1910 Sports centre and baths, Zenklova st.
- 1911 – 1913 Adam pharmacy and lantern, Václavské sq. + Jungmannovo sq.
- 1911 – 1919 Šupich houses, at the corner of Václavské sq. and Štěpánska st.
- 1912 – 1913 House Diamant, Spálená st. no: 82
- 1914 – 1915 Personal block of flats, Haštalská st. no: 791
- 1922 Villa Stieber, Pod Kaštany st. no: 510
- 1924 – 1925 Adaptation of Merkur Hotel, Hybernská st. no: 999
Out of Prague buildings:
- 1909 – 1910 Slavia Bank in Lvov {Ukraine}
- 1912 Tomb of Mr. Nejedly {constructor} in Mnichovo Hradište
- 1912 – 1913 villa in Litol (close to Lysá nad Labem)
- cca 1922 Hydroelectric power station in Spálov at Železný Brod
Source: Emil Králíček – zapomenutý mistr secese a kubismu (Zdeněk Lukeš, Ester Havlová, Vendula Hnídková) Galerie Jaroslava Fragnera 2005