Novotný, Otakar

Novotný, Otakar

 

Born Jan. 11, 1880, in Benešov; died Apr. 4, 1959, in Prague. Czech architect. One of the founders of modern Czech architecture.

From 1900 to 1903, Novotný studied in Prague under J. Kotěra at the Industrial Arts School. He taught at the school from 1929 to 1940. His style evolved from art nouveau to functional-ism. Novotný’s designs (Štencův house, 1911; the house of the Manes Society, 1930—both in Prague) strove for monumentality and simplicity. The architect exploited the expressive possibilities of unplastered brick surfaces.