Litomyšl builder, František Vlach, significantly influenced the appearance of the First-Republic Masaryk Quarter. In spite of the fact that the quarter's most dominant buildings – new school buildings, apartment and office blocks – are the work of “outsider” architects, Vlach's smaller, but more numerous buildings gave the quarter a characteristically modern but architecturally restrained and humbler tone.
An exemplary case of this approach is Vlach's building for the District Health Insurance department (formerly the District Health Treasury) from 1926. Whilst in most towns at that time, the first Purist and Functionalist buildings were being erected, which sometimes even shocked with their modernity, the insurance building has a more conservative appearance and makes no attempt to compete with its grander neighbours. Its exterior has the appearance of a family villa rather than that of a public institute. The whole perimeter of the building is divided horizontally by ledges and belts of coloured rendering. The original intention, to enliven the facade with rhomboid shaped ornamentation similar to that on the nearby apartment block (04-591), was not carried out, as was the case with the designer's next project – the neighbouring Hošpes Villa, which was built simultaneously (04-653). Thus, the buildings visually complement each other and look pleasingly compact in this part of the town. One more notable aspect of the building's facade, which has unfortunately, been bricked up, was the glazed veranda on the first-floor east facade, offering impressive views of the Chateau Hillock over on the opposite side of town.
The facilities for the public – offices, conference room, and surgery with spacious waiting room – were located on the raised ground floor. Flats were situated on the first floor and in part of the basement. In 1947, numerous modifications were carried out on the building, with the first floor being converted into a surgery. Today, the building is still being used for health care, and retains its original architectural appearance.
AŠ