In the heart of Brno stands a remarkable monument to Czech Modernism - the First Moravian Savings Bank, designed between 1937 and 1939 by Josef Polášek, Otakar Oplatek, and Heinrich Blum. It represents one of the finest examples of interwar Functionalist architecture in Central Europe - a bold statement of progress, efficiency, and light.
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By the mid-1930s, the bank’s original headquarters on Jánská Street had become outdated. A competition for a new design was launched in 1936 and ultimately led to an extraordinary collaboration between the three architects. Their challenge was to create a building that would remain operational during construction - a logistical feat that resulted in two interconnected structures unified by a single aesthetic vision.
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The finished building radiated confidence and optimism. Its travertine-clad façade, horizontal ribbon windows, and concave forms embodied the modern spirit of the time. Inside, the bank was a triumph of light and geometry: a sweeping oval foyer lined with black and white marble, a mezzanine floating on reinforced concrete rods, and a vast skylit hall that seemed to glow from within. The design drew comparisons to the interiors of ocean liners - spaces of precision, grace, and quiet power.
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But what truly set this building apart was its pioneering integration of modern technology and design craftsmanship. The interiors were equipped with advanced vault systems, electronic alarms, and even neon lighting - a novelty in 1930s Czechoslovakia. It was a building that symbolized the promise of a new era, combining architectural ambition with human-centered innovation.
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Among its many design details were the elegant Napako wall lights, created to harmonize with the building’s modernist aesthetic. These fixtures, with their stainless-steel mounts and upward-opening milk glass shades, reflected the bank’s philosophy perfectly: functional, refined, and beautifully understated. The light they cast was soft yet purposeful - illuminating surfaces without glare, enhancing both the architecture and the atmosphere.
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Today, examples of these lights are exceptionally rare. The set of three 1930s Napako wall lamps offered by us come directly from this design lineage - identical to those used in the Brno bank. They retain every detail of their original craftsmanship while offering a glimpse into the optimism and artistry of pre-war Czech design.
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The First Moravian Savings Bank remains a symbol of resilience and vision - a masterpiece that survived turbulent decades while preserving its integrity and style. Likewise, these lights stand as luminous reminders of a time when design, technology, and architecture came together in perfect harmony.
Image credit: Barnabas
For collectors, architects, and design lovers, they are not just functional objects - they are fragments of history, glowing with the quiet brilliance of Modernism itself.