Three buildings in the Vyšehrad district of Prague define the architectural legacy of Josef Chochol. These structures, completed between 1912 and 1914, represent significant examples of Cubist design. Beyond his influence on this geometric aesthetic, Chochol functioned as an active urban planner, scenographer, and architectural theoretician throughout his career in the shifting political landscape of central Europe.
Professional Formation and Early Influences
Born in Písek in 1880, Chochol pursued his architectural training in two stages. He attended the Czech Technical University in Prague between 1908 and 1924. Additionally, he studied at the academy in Vienna from 1907 to 1909, operating under the instruction of Otto Wagner. These formative years preceded his emergence as a prominent figure within the Mánes Union of Fine Arts, an organization he joined in 1913.
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Chochol is categorized alongside Pavel Janák and Josef Gočár as one of the three primary Czech Cubist architects. His most recognized work in Prague includes the Villa Kovařovic, commissioned by Bedřich Kovařovic and built between 1912 and 1913. He also designed the residence now known as the Cubist Threehouse at Rašínovo nábřeží 47, constructed between 1913 and 1914. His portfolio in the capital also features the Hodek Apartments, based on a design by František Hodek and completed in 1914.
Shift in Style and Technical Infrastructure
In 1914, Chochol moved away from the Cubist aesthetic to adopt the internationally oriented constructivist style. His professional scope extended to urban infrastructure and restoration, including the renovation of the Brožík-hall located within the Old City Hall. Working alongside engineer František Mencl, he designed the original Troja-bridge between Holešovice and Troja, which stood from 1928 until 1975. In 1946, this structure was renamed the Barricades bridge.
Political Engagement and Later Career
Chochol maintained a distinct political profile, notably serving as a founding member of the Left Front organization and the Association of Socialist Architects. He was the only architect among the group of Czech Cubists to hold strong, documented political views. His involvement with the Mánes Union of Fine Arts lasted until 1945, when he was expelled from the organization on charges of patriotic deficiency. He died in 1956, having worked in both Prague and Karlovy Vary.
Fast facts
- Born: 1880, Písek
- Died: 1956, Prague
- Primary Style: Cubist, Constructivist
- Education: Czech Technical University in Prague
- Notable Membership: Mánes Union of Fine Arts
- Major Infrastructure: Troja-bridge
- Citizenship: Austria–Hungary; Czechoslovakia
Questions readers ask
What stylistic shift occurred in Chochol's career?
He abandoned the Cubist style in 1914 to focus on the constructivist style.
Which buildings in Prague are considered his masterworks?
The Villa Kovařovic, the Cubist Threehouse, and the Hodek Apartments.
Achievements
- Trained at Czech Technical University in Prague
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