Zdeněk Řihák’s Hotel Buildings and the State Project Institute of Trade Brno

Lukáš Kos

doi:10.31577/archandurb.2021.55.1-2.4

Abstract

The text briefly describes the operation of one of the state planning establishments for hotel construction in Czechoslovakia from 1960 to 1990, placing the architectural work of SPITB employee Zdeněk Řihák within the global context of that time. The Czechoslovak hotel production and the work of Zdeňek Řihák is analysed on for case studies: Hotel Continental in Brno (1961 – 1964), hotel Panorama in Nové Štrbské Pleso (1967 – 1970), Labská bouda in the Krkonoše mountains (1969 – 1972) and hotel Patria in Štrbské Pleso (1969 – 1973). Zdeněk Řihák and his generation of architects had a great influence upon the development of Czechoslovak architecture. Unfortunately, their works are now disappearing due to a lack of understanding or to free up land for developers. In most cases, however, these are valuable buildings whose rights to existence and heritage conservation have not yet been adequately exercised, so that not even Řihák’s hotels are safe from inappropriate alterations and impending demolition. Fortunately, visitors can nonetheless still admire the best-preserved examples of Hotel Patria at Štrbské Pleso and Hotel Continental in Brno, whereas Labská bouda and the Panorama now appear worse off….

Highlights

The present text briefly describes the operation of one of the state planning establishments for hotel construction in Czechoslovakia from 1960 to 1990, placing the architectural work of SPITB employee Zdeněk Řihák[1] within the global context of that time
Kovařík designed hundreds of interiors, only a small fraction of which survive today in fragmentary form. He collaborated within the Dílo Czech Fine Art Fund (ČFVU) in Brno with various artists, e.g. Inez Tuschnerová and Jan Rajlich on the incorporation of their works in the interiors of buildings designed by the SPITB and others.[15]
The Panorama served as a fairly inexpensive B* class accommodation facility, while a deluxe A* class hotel development still awaited Zdeněk Řihák in the form of the Patria at Štrbské Pleso, even though it had been in model form since the 1960s, when the architect had collaborated with such prominent figures in Czechoslovak photography as Alexander Jirousek, Milič Blahout, Milica Rényiová and Adolf Vrhel

Summary

Introduction

The present text briefly describes the operation of one of the state planning establishments for hotel construction in Czechoslovakia from 1960 to 1990, placing the architectural work of SPITB employee Zdeněk Řihák[1] within the global context of that time. He collaborated within the Dílo Czech Fine Art Fund (ČFVU) in Brno with various artists, e.g. Inez Tuschnerová and Jan Rajlich on the incorporation of their works in the interiors of buildings designed by the SPITB and others.[15] some extensive photographic material on Kovařík’s work was recently destroyed, so it can only be admired on a few photographs in Blok informací SPÚO Brno,[16] whose editorial board at the institute was headed by architect Petr Haimann.[17] In his personal papers, Zdeněk Řihák mentioned a school in Křenov near Svitavy, completed in 1955, as one of his first achievements.

Hotel Panorama

Hotel Labská Bouda

Hotel Patria

Findings

Conclusion