Malý Berlín, Constructivist residence in Holešovice, Prague 7, Czech Republic.
Malý Berlín is a six to eight-story apartment building with brown-yellow plaster and green-white window frames that follows strict geometric lines. The structure surrounds a central courtyard with benches and garden areas where residents can gather.
The building was completed in 1937 as an example of functionalist architecture and was first occupied in March 1939, coinciding with the German occupation of Czechoslovakia. The Gestapo took control of numerous apartments shortly after, marking a turning point for those living there.
The name Malý Berlín comes from the German-speaking community that lived in this Holešovice neighborhood between the World Wars. This connection to German culture remains visible in how the building and courtyard are designed.
The building sits at the corner of Bubenská and Veletržní streets and is easy to reach on foot from the main Holešovice area. Basement spaces originally housed shared facilities like washing machines and carpet cleaners, though access depends on current maintenance.
This building stands as one of Prague's early examples of functionalist architecture, displaying the modern design ideas of the 1930s that were still uncommon in the city. Its form and style differ notably from other apartment buildings nearby, making it worth noticing for anyone interested in how architecture developed.
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