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Zlín
In case somebody is an enthusiast about functionalist architecture, there is one regional centre in Czech republic for him/her. Development of the town of Zlín, populated by 79,000 nowadays, is connected with Tomas Bata, tinker, entrepreneur and leader of Bata shoe company, one of the worlds largest in interwar period. Between 1900 and 1940 Zlín grew up from a periferique little town of 3,600 into a 40,000 town – one of most important in pre-WW2 Czechoslovakia. Bata asked several great architects, Le Corbusiere included, to built a new city. Therefore, there are two typical characteristics about Zlín architecture. Functionalist objects and Bata’s brick housing colonies, very unique as for Central Europe and very different from whatever in Czech republic one can find. The “21” building was Central European tallest skyscraper back in 1937 (77,5 m). Located in eastern Moravia, 305 km (190 mi) eastern from Prague, mostly in a valley of Dřevnice river surrounded by hilly terrains, it is a pleasant place for a one day visit. Especially, if you do not mind about complete lack of medieval heritage.
Zlín on a map of Czech republic
Introduction
Aerial
old Bata factories area
Some of Le Corbusiere urban footprints
The 21 Skyscraper – built in 1937 as the tallest Central-European skyscraper of the time
View from the top
Moskva Hotel, late 1930s
Bata houses
Districts of Bata houses
The Shoe-production museum
Tomas Bata University
central Zlín
Town Hall
Central square
Church of St. Philip and Jacob
Zlín yellow-blue trolley-busses
Zlín Chateaux
Lešná Chateaux Zlín outskirts
Final one...
View on Jižní Svahy commie-block area


In case somebody is an enthusiast about functionalist architecture, there is one regional centre in Czech republic for him/her. Development of the town of Zlín, populated by 79,000 nowadays, is connected with Tomas Bata, tinker, entrepreneur and leader of Bata shoe company, one of the worlds largest in interwar period. Between 1900 and 1940 Zlín grew up from a periferique little town of 3,600 into a 40,000 town – one of most important in pre-WW2 Czechoslovakia. Bata asked several great architects, Le Corbusiere included, to built a new city. Therefore, there are two typical characteristics about Zlín architecture. Functionalist objects and Bata’s brick housing colonies, very unique as for Central Europe and very different from whatever in Czech republic one can find. The “21” building was Central European tallest skyscraper back in 1937 (77,5 m). Located in eastern Moravia, 305 km (190 mi) eastern from Prague, mostly in a valley of Dřevnice river surrounded by hilly terrains, it is a pleasant place for a one day visit. Especially, if you do not mind about complete lack of medieval heritage.
Zlín on a map of Czech republic
Introduction

Aerial
old Bata factories area

Some of Le Corbusiere urban footprints

The 21 Skyscraper – built in 1937 as the tallest Central-European skyscraper of the time
View from the top
Moskva Hotel, late 1930s
Bata houses
Districts of Bata houses

The Shoe-production museum
Tomas Bata University
central Zlín

Town Hall

Central square

Church of St. Philip and Jacob

Zlín yellow-blue trolley-busses

Zlín Chateaux



Lešná Chateaux Zlín outskirts
Final one...
View on Jižní Svahy commie-block area