Women Houses, Functionalist hotel building in Smíchov, Czech Republic
Women Houses is a functionalist residential building in Smíchov featuring clean geometric lines, expansive windows, and streamlined design throughout. The structure was built to combine comfortable living with practical layouts and efficient building services in every section.
Architect Josef Hlaváček designed this building in 1933, during the period when functionalist architecture was gaining recognition throughout Czechoslovakia. It emerged during an era when new housing approaches and modern construction methods were reshaping cities.
This building provided independent living space for women during a period when they were gaining greater freedom in work and social life. The design reflected modern values about female independence and offered a community built around this progressive idea.
The building sits near public transportation and is easy to reach by various transit options. Visitors should explore the surroundings on foot to appreciate the architecture from different angles and perspectives.
The building integrated residential spaces with shared facilities like dining halls and laundries available to all residents. This mixed-use approach was an early example of community-focused housing design in Prague.
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