Pavel Janák

An architect, urban planner, designer of furniture and decorations, professor at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design, and architectural theoretician. He studied technical studies in Prague at both the Czech and German schools, as well as at the Academy of Art in Vienna. He worked with Josef Gočár at Jan Kotěra’s studio. His works go through several distinct phases: his first period is consciously focused on modernism, then he becomes the leading representative of Czech cubism. He then goes through a period of national style only to end up being entirely devoted to functionalism. He was a long-standing president of the Czechoslovak Werkbund, the main initiator of the functionalist Baba estate, and the author of Baba’s urban plans. In the Baba estate, he designed the Dovolil House as well as his own house.

Pavel Janák

(*1882 Prague +1956 Prague)

1899-1905
studied architecture at CTU in Prague

1902-1903
studied at the German Technical High School in Prague

1906-1907
studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna with Otto Wagner

1907-1908
cooperated with the studio of Professor Jan Kotěra in Prague, study trips to Italy

1908
member of the Mánes Union of Fine Arts

1909-1910
employed in the Department of Construction of the Prague City Hall

1911
independent architect in Prague
member of the Group of Fine Artists in Prague

1912
co-founder of the Prague Art Workshops (PUD)

1914-1918
military service

1919
state exam at the Czech Technical University in Prague

1921
Professor at the Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design in Prague
member of the Czech Academy of Sciences and Arts

1924-1945
President of the Czechoslovak Werkbund (SČSD)

1935
corresponding member of the Moscow Academy of Architecture

1936-1956
architect of Prague Castle

Significant Works

1909-1910
Hlávka’s Bridge in Prague

1911
Jakubec house, Jičín

1912-1913
reconstruction of Dr. Fára’s house, Pelhřimov

1913-1914
weir on the River Labe, Předměřice 1

1914
Villa Pick, Ljubljana

1922
crematorium, Pardubice

1922-1924
Riunione adriatica di Sicurta, Prague-Nové Město (with Josef Zasche)

1923-1924
artists’ colony (villas of J. Benda, B. Kafka, E. Filla and V. Beneš), Prague-Ořechovka

1924-1926
Škoda Palace, Prague-Nové Město
Czech Autoclub building, Prague-Nové Město

1924-1928
Libeň Bridge, Prague

1925-1934
reconstruction and extension of the Czernin Palace, Prague-Hradčany

1927
airport, Mariánské Lázně

1927-1928
pavilion of the Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design at the Brno Exhibition Centre

1927-1929
block of cooperative houses, Prague-Dejvice

1929-1932
building plan of the Baba Housing Estate, Prague-Dejvice

1932
houses of Pavla and Václav Linda and Ing. Karel Dovolil and his own house, Baba, Prague-Dejvice
Juliš Hotel, Prague-Nové Město
Congregation of the Czechoslovak Hussite Church, Prague-Vinohrady

1934-1935
villa with a studio for the sculptor Josef Mařatka, Prague-Střešovice

1948-1950
renovation of the Riding Hall, extension of garages and terraces, Prague Castle

1950
renovation of the Hall of Ball Games, Prague Castle

Realised buildings in Baba Housing Estate

1932 houses of Pavla and Václav Linda and Ing. Karel Dovolil and his own house, Baba, Prague-Dejvice