The Fostinum
The collector is the true resident of the interior. The collector dreams his way not only into a distant or bygone world but also into a better one.
- Walter Benjamin
Functionalism was an architectural style that started in 1920s Europe and quickly spread throughout the world. The style is easily spotted by its use of sleek, clean lines and "modern" materials like glass, steel, concrete, and plaster. Initially promulgated by architects like Le Corbusier, Adolf Loos, Walter Gropius, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, it was adopted by Czech and Slovak modernist architects who were looking for a style that reflected the needs and realities of modern life. Above is just a small selection of Czech and Slovak functionalist architecture from architects such as Jaromír Krejcar, Pavel Janák, Vladimír Karfík, Jan Gillar, Evžen Linhart, and others. For more pictures of Czech and Slovak functionalism, please see my pages devoted to Czech Functionalist Renderings, the Atelier de Sandalo and Functionalism in Brno.