Cyril Bouda, a renowned Czech painter and graphic artist, once called this striking house his home. Vila Bouda, a masterpiece of functionalist architecture, stands before us as a testament to the innovative spirit of the interwar period.
The villa’s clean lines and minimalist design reflect the functionalist principles championed by its architect, Oldřich Starý. Starý, a pioneer of Czech functionalism, believed in “new architecture”, emphasizing purity, honesty in form, and the idea of a house as a “machine for living”. He designed Vila Bouda for Bouda, incorporating a unique feature: a sliding wall that connected the two-level studio to the living space, seamlessly blending work and life. Adding to its progressive design, an outdoor staircase linked the studio to the garden, further uniting the house with nature.
Interestingly, Cyril Bouda wasn’t the only artist to reside in this avant-garde neighborhood. Starý also designed homes for fellow artists František Heřman, Ladislav Sutnar, and Karla and Gustav Vavřínek in the Baba district, creating a haven for creativity and modern living. The Bouda family’s legacy lives on, as they still reside in this remarkable home, a testament to the enduring power of art, architecture, and family history intertwined.