Vilové čtvrti Prahy a okolí (2026)

This Czech-language book substantially expands Pavel Švec’s earlier work on Prague’s villa districts, extending its scope beyond a dozen residential areas in the capital to Roztoky, Všenory, Brunšov, Černošice, Řevnice and Jevany. Detailed text, maps and hundreds of photographs reflect the author’s tireless research in archives, literature and, above all, the field. The book presents an unparalleled systematic survey of residential architecture, revealing architectural treasures that visitors to these districts and towns may have overlooked. As a journalist, Švec describes individual buildings in an engaging, readable way, while his former work as a building designer gives him an informed insight into modern architecture. Historicist, Art Nouveau, Beuron School, Cubist, Rondocubist, Functionalist, Purist, Art Deco, Sorela and contemporary approaches all appear in his account of Prague and its surroundings. Most of the buildings are residential, and the author explores not only their architectural and technical history but also the human stories of the architects, clients and families who lived in them. Alongside a tribute to dozens and even hundreds of largely unknown architects, he maps the often tragic fates of the people connected with these villas. The book offers inspiration for exploring Prague’s villa districts and the areas beyond the city, including hidden architectural gems in Vinohrady, Strašnice, Podolí, Hodkovičky, Barrandov, Malvazinky, Smíchov, Ořechovka and Hanspaulka.