The Hus Congregational House, or Husův sbor, is a Hussite church in Dykova Street in Prague 10. It was completed in 1935 as part of a multi-functional development by architect Pavel Janák in the constructivist style. The tall, six-storey minimalist tower and belfry carries a 700 kg copper chalice as a symbol of the Hussite Church. The tower was briefly used to create an alternative radio station during the Prague uprising in 1945.
The Hus Congregational House was built between 1930 and 1935 to architect Pavel Janák's constructivist design in Dykova Street in Prague 10[1] for a Hussite congregation. The land near the old water works had been purchased in 1925, and the Church commissioned Janák to create a novel design for the church.[2]
Janak's first design in 1929 was accepted by the Church elders but rejected by the town planners. The following year's design included an apartment building, a theatre and a six-storey tower. By this time the symbolic foundation stone had been laid but work on the first real building did not start until 1 July 1932.[2] Janak had previous experience of pre-stressed concrete as he had worked on the church in Vršovice, which was built in 1930.[3] Fourteen months after this building was started the reinforced-concrete framed church held its first service and the building was delivered under budget.[2]
The six-storey tower is just under 35 metres high and the top three floors incorporate bells. The design includes spiral staircases for the first three floors, while upper floors have ladders for access.[2] The symbol of the Hussite Church, a copper chalice that weighs 700 kg and stands over two metres tall, was consecrated and installed on top of the tower in June 1933[1] in the "Celebration of the Goblet".[2]
In 1938 the design was reworked by Jiri Jakub. He converted the space under the church that had been designed as a theatre into a columbarium where funeral urns could be stored.[4]
The tower was used between 7 and 9 May 1945 as an impromptu radio tower during the Prague uprising, when it sheltered Czech resistance fighters who were trying to evict the occupying German forces from the city.[1]
Today
This plaque records the role of the church as a radio station during the Prague Uprising.
Inside the church is a 2.6-metre tall statue of Christ by Jan Znoj, which is surrounded by earthenware reliefs of the apostles and Czech heroes of the Reformation. The reliefs continue into the foyer, where there is also a statue of Bishop Jan Blahoslav by the sculptor František Bílek. The sculptural decorations are by Jaroslav Horejc.[4]
The church building is used for Hussite Church services, but it is also used for language courses, lectures and public exhibitions. The space below the chapel is still used as a columbarium.[5] The rest of the building still includes clubrooms, a residential building and offices.[2]
The minimalist building has been described as "Protestant anti-baroque architecture in the extreme, dramatic ... but soulless".[6]
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hussite church (Vinohrady).
^ abcThe Prague Vitruvius, Pragitecture.eu, originally retrieved 12 November 2013
^ abcdefChurch of Jan Hus Congregation at Vinohrady 30 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine, stovezata.praha.eu, retrieved 12 November 2013
^MANA Theatre presents 2 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, husiti.cz, retrieved 14 November 2013
^ abKohout, M., Slapeta, V., & Templ, S., Prague 20th Century Architecture (Vienna and New York: Springer Verlag, 1999), p. 103.
^Anděl, J., The new vision for the new architecture: Czechoslovakia, 1918-1938 (Prague: Slovart Publishing, 2005).
^Prague: A Cultural and Literary History, Richard D. E. Burton, ISBN1902669630
January 30, 2023
congregational, house, husův, sbor, hussite, church, dykova, street, prague, completed, 1935, part, multi, functional, development, architect, pavel, janák, constructivist, style, tall, storey, minimalist, tower, belfry, carries, copper, chalice, symbol, hussi. The Hus Congregational House or Husuv sbor is a Hussite church in Dykova Street in Prague 10 It was completed in 1935 as part of a multi functional development by architect Pavel Janak in the constructivist style The tall six storey minimalist tower and belfry carries a 700 kg copper chalice as a symbol of the Hussite Church The tower was briefly used to create an alternative radio station during the Prague uprising in 1945 Hus Congregational HouseHusuv sborThe church and tower50 04 28 N 14 26 56 E 50 074343 N 14 4489 E 50 074343 14 4489 Coordinates 50 04 28 N 14 26 56 E 50 074343 N 14 4489 E 50 074343 14 4489LocationDykova 51 1101 00 Prague 10 VinohradyCountryCzech RepublicDenominationHussite ChurchHistoryFounded1935ArchitectureArchitect s Pavel JanakYears built1930 1935History EditThe Hus Congregational House was built between 1930 and 1935 to architect Pavel Janak s constructivist design in Dykova Street in Prague 10 1 for a Hussite congregation The land near the old water works had been purchased in 1925 and the Church commissioned Janak to create a novel design for the church 2 Janak s first design in 1929 was accepted by the Church elders but rejected by the town planners The following year s design included an apartment building a theatre and a six storey tower By this time the symbolic foundation stone had been laid but work on the first real building did not start until 1 July 1932 2 Janak had previous experience of pre stressed concrete as he had worked on the church in Vrsovice which was built in 1930 3 Fourteen months after this building was started the reinforced concrete framed church held its first service and the building was delivered under budget 2 The six storey tower is just under 35 metres high and the top three floors incorporate bells The design includes spiral staircases for the first three floors while upper floors have ladders for access 2 The symbol of the Hussite Church a copper chalice that weighs 700 kg and stands over two metres tall was consecrated and installed on top of the tower in June 1933 1 in the Celebration of the Goblet 2 In 1938 the design was reworked by Jiri Jakub He converted the space under the church that had been designed as a theatre into a columbarium where funeral urns could be stored 4 The tower was used between 7 and 9 May 1945 as an impromptu radio tower during the Prague uprising when it sheltered Czech resistance fighters who were trying to evict the occupying German forces from the city 1 Today Edit This plaque records the role of the church as a radio station during the Prague Uprising Inside the church is a 2 6 metre tall statue of Christ by Jan Znoj which is surrounded by earthenware reliefs of the apostles and Czech heroes of the Reformation The reliefs continue into the foyer where there is also a statue of Bishop Jan Blahoslav by the sculptor Frantisek Bilek The sculptural decorations are by Jaroslav Horejc 4 The church building is used for Hussite Church services but it is also used for language courses lectures and public exhibitions The space below the chapel is still used as a columbarium 5 The rest of the building still includes clubrooms a residential building and offices 2 The minimalist building has been described as Protestant anti baroque architecture in the extreme dramatic but soulless 6 References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hussite church Vinohrady a b c The Prague Vitruvius Pragitecture eu originally retrieved 12 November 2013 a b c d e f Church of Jan Hus Congregation at Vinohrady Archived 30 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine stovezata praha eu retrieved 12 November 2013 MANA Theatre presents Archived 2 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine husiti cz retrieved 14 November 2013 a b Kohout M Slapeta V amp Templ S Prague 20th Century Architecture Vienna and New York Springer Verlag 1999 p 103 Andel J The new vision for the new architecture Czechoslovakia 1918 1938 Prague Slovart Publishing 2005 Prague A Cultural and Literary History Richard D E Burton ISBN 1902669630 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hus Congregational House amp oldid 1133179755, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
