Dušan Jurkovič and his architectural work in the Czech Republic

Dušan Jurkovič was a major representative of Art Nouveau architecture. He created a very distinctive style, strongly influenced by folk architecture.

Dušan Jurkovič (1868 -1947) was a Slovak architect, furniture designer and ethnographer. He was looking for inspiration in the English movement Arts and Crafts. Roots of Jurkovič direction to work with folk form, we can find already in the family background, his father was a famous Slovak patriots and his mother was interested in folk art.

After studying at the lower secondary school in Sopron he went to Vienna, where he studied at the State Industrial School.

During a brief practice in the studio of architect Bully in Martin he was fascinated with a work of folk craftsmen in wood. Six years he worked in the studio of architect Michael Urbánek in Vsetín. With his partial help he realized building structures for The Ethnographic exhibition in Vsetín and The Czechoslovak Ethnographic exhibition in Prague in 1895. An apprecation of this work helped him obtain a contract for the architectural desing of hostels Pustevny on Radhošť (1897 - 1899). Nowadays it is a favorite summer and winter tourist destination.

In 1899 he won the contract from František Mareček, a director of the Brno girls school Vesna, which was the impulse for him to move to Brno. In the same year in Brno, he created design of furnishings for his own flat on the street Veveří and interiors of two other dwellings.

The greatest importance of his work makes his own villa in Žabovřesky designed in 1905, built the following year, which is one of the most important monuments of Art Nouveau architecture in Brno.
It is remarkable in many aspects. It is thanks to its formal solution, which is an unique synthesis of the effects of central European folk culture and principles of British modernism and Viennese Secession.
On August 26th, 1906 the villa was inaugurated and there was held an exhibition of architecture and art industry. The fact that the villa was a place of the exhibition, it was a certain trend in the promotion of modern architecture in its time. Now, the villa and its surrounding garden, is managed by the Moravian Gallery in Brno.

Other Jurkovič works:
Spa buildings and colonnades in Luhačovice
Luhačovice is the largest Moravian spa town, used as a spa since the 17th century. The spa buildings have a distinctive Art Nouveau design influenced by Wallachian folk architecture. The original mill rebuilt Jurkovič at the spa house with accommodation and balneotherapy in 1902.

Jirásek cottage in Náchodsko
It lies at an altitude of 622 meters n.m. The original tower was built by the Club of Czech tourists in 1896 as one of the first in Bohemia. A foundation stone for the construction of new tourist cottage was laid on the occasion of celebrating the 70th birthday of famous writer Alois Jirasek in July 1921. The chalet was inaugurated on 28th September 1923. A sightseeing platform at a height of 24 m provides a view to Bohemia and neighboring Polsko.

Restaurant in the village The Hell in Nové Město nad Metují
The valley at the confluence of Metuje and Olešenka is an important tourist place. Tired after a long trip you can relax in the stylish restaurant with hell motives. Friendly environment awaits you with famous Czech hospitality. There does not miss 'hell' specialties on the menu.

Reconstruction of Nové Město nad Metují Castle
The picturesque hilltop town was founded in the early 16th century above the valley of the river Metuje. Over the river, on the place of the former castle was built a valuable renaissance chateau. The interiors were adapted by architect Dušan Jurkovič in the styles of folklore - inspired byArt Nouveau and Art Deco.

Kunětická Hora
The ruins of a castle founded by Diviš Bořek of Miletín in the early 15th century; a grandiose late-Gothic remodeling was carried out by the Pernštejns. In 1645 the castle was burned down. It was partially restored at the beginning of the 20th century according to a design by architect Dušan Jurkovič. The castle grounds, palace buildings, a knights’ hall with a replica cellar vault. The palace cellars house an exhibition of archaeological findings.

Stations of the Cross in Hostýn
Svatý Hostýn is a pilgrimage place with a Pilgrim Basilica of the Assumption on Hostýn Hill (735 meters), a view tower, educational trail on top of the hill and remarkable Stations of the Cross designed by D. Jurkovič.

Villa of Dr. Náhlovský in Prague-Bubeneč