Nature Trail Modern Architecture

Nature Trail Modern architecture from the end of the 19th century to 2016

Jihlava is known for its valuable Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Classicist architecture, which is concentrated mainly in the city center, inside the city walls. These were broken in the second half of the 19th century in connection with the lengthening or construction of new streets in many places, and construction development began to concentrate outside the walls in all three suburban zones, i.e. in the Špitálský, Panenský and Brtnický suburbs. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the historicizing, especially neo-Renaissance morphology of the facades of buildings, both residential and school or factory, has been replaced by Art Nouveau décor and many interesting and valuable buildings have been created.

The establishment of the Czechoslovak Republic was a major change for the population of Jihlava and the entire German-speaking island. The dominant position of Bohemian Jihlava, still dominated by Germans, began to manifest itself in all spheres of life, as evidenced by the purely Czech architecture of public buildings and houses. Even in the case of private contracts, Czech builders and architects are beginning to promote themselves.

The period from the end of World War II to 1989, and especially the architecture of this period, is often associated with the socialist realism of the first half and with the subsequent gray of precast concrete housing estates and industrial sites. However, even from this time we can find a number of interesting and valuable buildings in Jihlava.

The period after 1989 is mainly associated with contracts for administrative and commercial buildings, street openings are beginning to stop with new buildings with commercial and administrative use. The panel construction has completed the scheduled constructions and has not continued any further, currently the “panel houses” are gradually being repaired. Reconstructions, moving away from unification, have an alternating quality. Architecturally valuable public and residential buildings and, last but not least, private residential houses continue to be created.

The nature trail will bring you closer to the development of architecture from the late 19th to the 21st century. It is based on the exhibition Functions and Style, held at the Gustav Mahler House in 2015. The e-book for the exhibition is available for free on www.mahler.cz.

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