At the beginning of the 1920s, Sloupnice, a large village to the north of Litomyšl, could boast a new, modern, Sokol Organization building which dominated its skyline. Its architectonic concept, which was closer in appearance to an industrial building than to a building dedicated to physical education, was comparable to the latest styling trends of the period in Europe.
After lengthy negotiations concerning in which of the two competing parts of the village the building would be constructed, Sloupnice Dolní (Lower) won over Sloupnice Horní (Upper). The project was undertaken in 1926 by the architect Vojtěch Vanický, a native of Sloupnice and a Sokol Organization member who was, at that time, co-operating with his teacher Josef Gočár at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague.
However, it was not his first commission for the Sokol Organization in Sloupnice; already in 1922, he had been entrusted with the task of drawing “the dream of Sloupnice Sokol members” and came up with a design featuring a modest, regional-style building with folklore motifs, reminiscent of the work of Dušan Jurkovič.
The design that was actually carried out differs from that design diametrically. The influence of the work of Josef Gočár, along with his own his experience from foreign study trips and lectures by the foremost architects from abroad, all played a major role in converting Vanický – within a relatively short period of four years – from picturesque folk motifs to Dutch Modernism, Purism and Functionalism.
The monumental effect of the building is magnified by its setting in sloping terrain. The facade of the central “Cubist” section is characteristic in the way its engineering brick facade contrasts with the cornices and lintels rendered in light colour and which are laid out horizontally, thus enforcing the facade's altogether peaceful aspect. The longitudinal front facade, behind which lies the section containing corridors, galleries and foyers, featured a flat roof with a terrace with three rectangular apertures (the terrace was later discarded due to leaks and was roofed over). Linking up to this part from the north is the main hall and auditorium which was covered from the very beginning with a steeply sloping, pitched roof whose triangular end gable brickwork is decorated with an artistically interesting variation of bonding styles.
A low, asymmetrically, positioned avant-corps with a roof terrace protrudes from the front façade and contains the caretaker's flat on the ground floor and a boardroom on the first floor. Its smooth light-coloured cement rendering also contrasts with the engineering brick of the main part of the building.
A grand design for the layout of the adjoining land at the rear of the building, featuring a stepped grandstand and a small outbuilding, was never carried out.
The interior features bright, white and grey tones. This colour combination has been most strictly adhered to in the case of the wooden panelling of the main gym hall, but continues on through the corridors and grand staircases (the public staircase with massive cylindrical pillars and the service staircase with a delicate metal handrail).
Many significant architectonic features have been preserved in relatively authentic condition; however, the building has been spoilt by unsightly annexes and unoriginal roofing. Nevertheless, it is a listed building with protected status and is undergoing a gradual reconstruction.
