Švehlova kolej, University dormitory and cinema in Žižkov, Czech Republic.
Svehlova kolej is a four-story residential building from the 1920s where Art Deco and Rondo-Cubism merge in curved exterior details throughout the facade. The dormitory contains varied room types and incorporates a cinema as part of its original program.
Built between 1923 and 1925 under architect Jan Chladek and builder Hilse, the dormitory emerged during Czechoslovakia's early years of independence and nation-building. Its completion reflected the period's investment in new public institutions for the young republic.
The cinema within the building has long served as a gathering place for residents, shaping the social life of the dormitory through regular film screenings. These cultural events remain woven into the daily rhythm of student life here.
The exterior and some common areas are accessible to visitors, though residential sections remain private spaces. It is worth checking ahead to learn which parts of the building and cinema can be visited at different times.
Sculptor František Uprka created elaborate architectural ornaments specifically for this building, visible in fine details across the facade and interior spaces. The Czech Ministry of Culture designated it as a protected cultural monument in 2004.
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