Josef Chochol

13 December 1880, Písek – 6 July 1956, Prague (or Karlovy Vary according to other sources)

Josef Chochol studied architecture at Czech Technical University in Prague under Josef Schulz and Jan Koula, and as a student gained practical experience in Osvald Polívka’s architectural firm. Later he continued his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, in Otto Wagner’s atelier. He was a member of many artistic groups and associations, e.g. the Mánes Association of Fine Artists, the Artěl association (Atelier for Fine Arts in Prague), the Prague Art Workshops, the Group of Fine Artists, the artistic association Stubborn Ones, the SIA Group of Architects, the Devětsil Artistic Association and the Architects’ Club. He published his papers in such journals as Volné směry, Styl, Stavba, ReD, Musaion or Der Bau.

Chochol was a prominent representative of Cubism – at the beginning of the 20^th century, he was one of the first Czech architects to develop the Avant-Garde principles of purism and constructivism (the never implemented design of the Liberated Theatre). He adopted Functionalism in his later works, although they did not match the quality of the radical Cubist period. His most important projects include Cubist tenement houses in Vyšehrad, Prague: the Kovařovic villa in Libušina Street, Hodek’s tenement house in Neklanova Street and the triple house on the Rašín Embankment. The Brožík Chamber in the Old Town Hall is a noteworthy example of Chochol’s early works. He was also a co-author of the Troja Bridge (a predecessor to the Bridge of the Barricade Fighters), now no longer in existence.