Wenkeův obchodní dům, Department store and cultural monument in Jaroměř, Czech Republic
Wenkeův obchodní dům is a department store and protected cultural monument in Jaroměř featuring a glass facade mounted on steel cantilevers, concrete supports, and classical windows topped with black ceramic pillars. The structure now houses the Municipal Museum and contains a fully restored historic freight elevator open for visitor demonstrations.
Josef Gočár designed this landmark between 1910 and 1911 for businessman Albert Wenke, a manufacturer of decorative cardboard products. The building introduced construction techniques that were ahead of their time in European architecture.
The building shaped how people in Jaroměř thought about modern commerce and style in the early 20th century. Walking through it today, you sense how this place once represented progress and new possibilities for the town.
The museum inside is easy to access and the historic elevator can be viewed during your visit. Take time to admire the facade details from the street and ask staff to explain the restored mechanics of the elevator mechanism.
The glass front appears to float against the building, held up by powerful steel cantilevers that are barely visible from the street. This hidden engineering solution was bold for its era and made the structure a reference point for future construction projects across Europe.
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