Hus' House, Constructivist church building in Vršovice, Czech Republic
Hus' House is a three-part building on Vršovické náměstí, combining a prayer hall, a tower and a residential block, designed by Karel Truksa with the tower conceived by Pavel Janák. Its tower rises 33 metres and is topped by a quadrangular chalice and cross; the tower's four tall shuttered windows and glazed upper floor were meant to read as a ship's lantern. The building also contains a theatre hall for 295 seated spectators.
A 1921 meeting of Czechoslovak Church members decided to build the house and held a first collection; the land on Na Kovárně street had held a coaching inn of the same name. The foundation stone was laid on 22 September 1929, a stone from Kozí Hrádek donated by the Tábor congregation, where Jan Hus had preached. The Nekvasil firm began work in March 1930 and the house opened on 21 December 1930.
The theatre hall, built as part of the church, seated 295 spectators and was home to the Jirásek Vršovice Theatre until 1964; during the wartime occupation it served as the Bio Helios cinema. Since 2015 the restored hall has housed Divadlo MANA, and the adjoining Studio MANA, opened in 2009, hosts community events.
The building generates income through theater productions and office leasing, which helps maintain the structure and its facilities. Visitors should check current schedules, as the space alternates between religious services and cultural events.
This structure was among Prague's first buildings to use prestressed concrete construction, marking an engineering milestone in the city. The technique allowed builders to create thin, strong walls that could support large interior spaces without extra supports.
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