Ladislav Žák
Encyclopedia
Ladislav Žák was a Czech architect, painter, architectural theorist and teacher. He was an important exponent of the Czech functionalist architecture in the 1930s, later he devoted himself mainly to landscape architecture
. In his theoretical works, he laid the foundations of the Czech landscape ecology
.
. He transferred to Prague's Malá Strana
in 1915, and graduated in 1919. He then began the study of painting at the Academy of Fine Arts
in the studio of Professor Karl Krattner. In 1923, he graduated which entitled him to teach drawing and painting. Shortly afterwards, he began teaching drawing in Prague, but soon thereafter, began to study architecture under Josef Gočár
at the Academy, completing the course in 1927.
In the 1930s, he participated in designing of Prague's functionalist housing estate known as Baba. Examples of his work in Baba include the interior plans of Spišek House, the terrace addition to Uhlíř House, as well as being the architect for Villa Čeněk, Villa Herain, Villa Hain, and Villa Zaorálek. In 1932, he developed the concept of Werkbund
houses that contained a bedroom for one person only along with other functional spaces. Žák found design inspiration from ocean liners and airplanes.
After gaining an interest in the architecture of villas, in his early thirties, he built several villas which are considered masterpieces of Czech functionalism. From 1934 to 1935, he designed villas of the filmmaker Martin Frič
and the actress Lída Baarová
. However, later he focused mainly on the furniture design and problems of the landscape architecture
. From 1936, he began documenting country landscape in Czechoslovakia
. This was particularly difficult following the Czechoslovak coup d'état of 1948
, during the period of heavy "landscape industralization". He was intimidated by articles published in the specialized magazines, but thanks to an intercession by his colleague Jaroslav Fragner, Žák was allowed to continue teaching at the Academy of Fine Arts.
After the Second World War, Žák designed a number of stone memorials and gravehouses in Ležáky
. In the 1950s, the Praha-Smíchov railway station
was enlarged following the plans of Žák and Jan Závorka.
In his later years, Žák focused mainly on developing his architectural theories. He summarized his research and insights in his main theoretical work, Obytná krajina ("The Inhabited Landscape"), which was published in 1947.
Landscape architecture
Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions...
. In his theoretical works, he laid the foundations of the Czech landscape ecology
Landscape ecology
Landscape ecology is the science of studying and improving relationships between urban development and ecological processes in the environment and particular ecosystems...
.
Early years
From 1911 to 1915 he attended school in Mladá BoleslavMladá Boleslav
Mladá Boleslav is a city in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, on the left bank of the Jizera river about 50 km northeast of Prague.Founded in the second half of the 10th century by King Boleslav II as a royal castle...
. He transferred to Prague's Malá Strana
Malá Strana
Malá Strana is a district of the city of Prague, Czech Republic, and one of its most historic regions.The name translated into English literally means "Little Side", though it is frequently referred to as "Lesser Town", "Lesser Quarter", or "Lesser Side"...
in 1915, and graduated in 1919. He then began the study of painting at the Academy of Fine Arts
Academy of Fine Arts in Prague
The Academy of Fine Arts, Prague was founded in 1799 and is the Czech Republic's oldest art college. The school offers twelve Master's degree programs and one Doctoral program.-History:...
in the studio of Professor Karl Krattner. In 1923, he graduated which entitled him to teach drawing and painting. Shortly afterwards, he began teaching drawing in Prague, but soon thereafter, began to study architecture under Josef Gočár
Josef Gocár
Josef Gočár , was a Czech architect, one of the founders of modern architecture in Czechoslovakia....
at the Academy, completing the course in 1927.
Career
Also in 1927, Žák wrote his first theoretical essay, O syntézu kreslení dneška (On the Synthesis of Drawing Today).In the 1930s, he participated in designing of Prague's functionalist housing estate known as Baba. Examples of his work in Baba include the interior plans of Spišek House, the terrace addition to Uhlíř House, as well as being the architect for Villa Čeněk, Villa Herain, Villa Hain, and Villa Zaorálek. In 1932, he developed the concept of Werkbund
Deutscher Werkbund
The Deutscher Werkbund was a German association of artists, architects, designers, and industrialists. The Werkbund was to become an important event in the development of modern architecture and industrial design, particularly in the later creation of the Bauhaus school of design...
houses that contained a bedroom for one person only along with other functional spaces. Žák found design inspiration from ocean liners and airplanes.
After gaining an interest in the architecture of villas, in his early thirties, he built several villas which are considered masterpieces of Czech functionalism. From 1934 to 1935, he designed villas of the filmmaker Martin Frič
Martin Fric
Martin Frič was a Czech film director and screenwriter. He had over 100 directing credits between 1929 and 1968, including feature films, shorts and documentary films.-Filmography:* Páter Vojtěch...
and the actress Lída Baarová
Lída Baarová
Lída Baarová was a Czech actress and mistress of Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's propaganda minister.-Biography:...
. However, later he focused mainly on the furniture design and problems of the landscape architecture
Landscape architecture
Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions...
. From 1936, he began documenting country landscape in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. This was particularly difficult following the Czechoslovak coup d'état of 1948
Czechoslovak coup d'état of 1948
The Czechoslovak coup d'état of 1948 – in Communist historiography known as "Victorious February" – was an event late that February in which the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, with Soviet backing, assumed undisputed control over the government of Czechoslovakia, ushering in over four decades...
, during the period of heavy "landscape industralization". He was intimidated by articles published in the specialized magazines, but thanks to an intercession by his colleague Jaroslav Fragner, Žák was allowed to continue teaching at the Academy of Fine Arts.
After the Second World War, Žák designed a number of stone memorials and gravehouses in Ležáky
Ležáky
Ležáky was a village in Czechoslovakia. In 1942 it was razed to the ground by Nazis during the German occupation of Czechoslovakia.Ležáky was a settlement inhabited by poor stone-cutters and little cottagers...
. In the 1950s, the Praha-Smíchov railway station
Praha-Smíchov railway station
Praha-Smíchov railway station is a major railway station in Prague, Czech Republic, located in Smíchov, in the south-west of the city. It serves as a major railway station on the Czech national rail network, and is connected to the rest of Prague by its metro station of the same name and numerous...
was enlarged following the plans of Žák and Jan Závorka.
In his later years, Žák focused mainly on developing his architectural theories. He summarized his research and insights in his main theoretical work, Obytná krajina ("The Inhabited Landscape"), which was published in 1947.
Personal life
He was a member of left-wing associations, such as the Socialist Union of Architects.Unrealized designs
- Villa Venera, 1930, Bílovice nad SvitavouBílovice nad SvitavouBílovice nad Svitavou is a village and municipality in Brno-Country District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic.The municipality covers an area of , and has a population of 3,044 ....
- unrealized project of a villa for František Venera
Realizations
- Villa Zaorálek, 1931–1932, Prague 6 - DejviceDejviceDejvice is a historical community, a municipal quarter of the Prague 6 district of Prague, Czech Republic. Its history can be traced back to the late Roman era. Dejvice is known for its appeal to the upper middle class, and as a university district...
, No. 1708, Na Ostrohu 54 - villa for the section chief of the Ministry of Education, Hugo Zaorálek. - Villa Čeněk, 1932, Prague 6 - Dejvice, No. 1777, Na Babě 11 - villa for the music pedagogue Bohumil Čeněk.
- Villa Herain, 1928–1932, Prague 6 - Dejvice, No. 1782, Na Babě 3 - villa for the art historian and director of the Museum of Decorative Arts in PragueMuseum of Decorative Arts in PragueFounded in 1885, the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague is housed in a Neo-Renaissance edifice built in 1897–1901 after the designs of architect Josef Schulz. The Museum’s rich collections include decorative and applied arts and design work ranging from Late Antiquity to the present day, with...
, Karel Herain. - Villa Hajn, 1932–1933, Prague 9 - Vysočany, No. 404, Na Vysočanských vinicích 31 - villa for the aircraft designer and founder of the company AviaAviaAvia is a Czech aircraft and automotive company notable for producing biplane fighter aircraft, especially the B-534, and trucks.- History :...
, Miroslav HajnMiroslav HajnMiroslav Hajn was a chief designer at ČKD-Praga, one of the largest engineering companies in the former Czechoslovakia and today's Czech Republic....
. - Villa Martin Frič, 1935, Prague 4 - Hodkovičky, No. 404, Na Lysinách 9 - villa for the film director Martin FričMartin FricMartin Frič was a Czech film director and screenwriter. He had over 100 directing credits between 1929 and 1968, including feature films, shorts and documentary films.-Filmography:* Páter Vojtěch...
. - Villa Lida Baar, 1937, Prague 6 - Dejvice, No. 677, Neherovská 8 - villa for the actress Lída BaarováLída BaarováLída Baarová was a Czech actress and mistress of Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's propaganda minister.-Biography:...
. - Memorial LežákyLežákyLežáky was a village in Czechoslovakia. In 1942 it was razed to the ground by Nazis during the German occupation of Czechoslovakia.Ležáky was a settlement inhabited by poor stone-cutters and little cottagers...
, 1945-1960.
Further reading
- Koukolová, Marcela: Ladislav Žák - vila režiséra Martina Friče ("Ladislav Žák - Family house of film director Martin Frič"), fotografie Ester Havlová, Praha : CORA, 1996 ISBN 80-238-2422-8
- Poláček, Jakub: K architektuře rodinných domů a vil Ladislava Žáka ("The architecture of houses and villas Ladislav Zak"), Praha : Architekt 2009, číslo 7, str. 18-19, dostupné online
- Švácha, Rostislav: Od moderny k funkcionalismu, proměny pražské architektury první poloviny dvacátého století ("From functionalism to modernism: Architecture changes in Prague the first half of the twentieth century"), 2. vydání, Praha : Victoria Publishing, 1995, ISBN 80-85605-84-8
- Šlapeta, V.; Kohout, M.; Templ, S.: Praha - architektura XX. století ("Prague, 20th century architecture"), Praha : Zlatý řez, 1998, ISBN 80-901562-3-1
- Templ, Stephan: Baba : osada Svazu Čs. díla Praha, Praha : Zlatý řez, 2000, str. 52, 88, 116, 182-183, ISBN 80-901562-4-X