As a significant centre of tourism Litomyšl was, for a long time, in need of a greater accommodation and restaurant capacity. This issue was to be solved by a new hotel located according to development plans in 1967 in the area of the proposed housing estate “Smutný most” in Bernardka.
The original designs for the whole housing estate which, along with the residential part and hotel, also included a shopping centre (02-1052) were carried out by Prague architects Ivo Loos and Jindřich Malátek in 1971. In their attempt to preserve the historical skyline and rhythmic layout of the town, they located the hotel within the space at the entrance to Havlíčkova Street from Smutný most (at the former Botana factory). The two-storey building, designed in the shape of a three-pointed star, was richly structured. The perimeter walls, attached to a steel frame, were to be made of glass and aluminium to bestow a fragile, subtle air upon the building to help it merge with its surroundings. The architects designed a “platform” accessible at three levels around the perimeter of the building and large terraces overlooking the River Loučná, in an attempt to connect it naturally with the surrounding public space. Sculptures were to be located at the main entrance to the hotel from Havlíčkova Street. Apart from traditional single and twin-bed rooms, the designs included suites and a flat for the manager. Space was set aside on the ground floor for a restaurant, café, confectionary, but also various services for the public (barber, florist).
However, as in the case of the housing estate and shopping centre, the plans were overruled by the Regional Investment Department and Litomyšl town council, who insisted resolutely on an increase in the total capacity of the planned building. The task of carrying out a new design was awarded to Josef Opatřil of Státní projektový ústav obchodu in Brno. In order to fulfil the requirements of the authorities, the architect designed a six-storey building with a protruding ground-floor base which conformed to the architectural standards, financial constraints and technical capabilities (damp subsoil issues complicated the construction) of the time. Unfortunately, the hotel blocks the view of the town skyline from the Hradec Králové direction.
Contrary to the conventional exterior design finished in brown-beige shades, the design and fittings in the interior deserve merit, especially within the ground-floor space. The restaurant is decorated by a large glass artwork created by the glass artist Ivan Kolman in 1984, with crystal and frosted glass motifs on a red background. The room is illuminated by light fittings specifically designed by the Olomouc architect Jančík and set into wooden ceiling panels decorated with graduated concentric circles in relief. The wooden panelling was originally dark and highly-polished, thus creating reflections and the optical illusion of greater space (today, the panels are painted in unsuitable pastel tones). In the vestibule there is an additional (originally located in a wine bar) ceramic artwork BS 1824–1884 by the sculptor Petr Svoboda, with a stylized depiction of Litomyšl town square and the Chateau Hillock in tribute to the composer Bedřich Smetana. After the untimely death of Petr Svoboda, the work was finished by the sculptress Milada Othová.
In its time, the interior was exceptionally luxurious with every last detail artistically thought out – e.g. menus, letterheads, visiting cards, etc. were all designed by the Prague artist Prokopová. All that remains of the original fittings, decorations and, in some cases, the layout of the building presents a disheartening sight.
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