The Semler Residence has been accepted into the international network of Iconic Houses

‘Hidden Gem in Plzeň’ – this is how the cultural monument Semler’s Residence was introduced into the international network ICONIC HOUSES, which brings together exceptional buildings designed by world architects of the 20th century. The unique residential interior, whose spatial concept was designed by Adolf Loos and detailed by Heinrich Kulka, is the only realization in Plzeň that employs the principle of Raumplan. Today, Semler's Residence ranks among 12 objects in the Czech Republic that belong to this network, placing it alongside such buildings as Villa Tugendhat in Brno, Müller Villa in Prague, as well as one of the other Plzeň realizations by Loos, the Brummel House.
ICONIC HOUSES is a foundation registered in the Netherlands as a non-profit organization, and it brings together 188 significant buildings of the 20th century around the world that are at least partially accessible to the public and serve as visitor attractions. This international community is based on professional cooperation; among other activities, it organizes international conferences and meetings, and promotes remarkable buildings as tourist destinations. Owners of the houses, whether private individuals, foundations, or state institutions, can share their experiences with the reconstruction, restoration, or operation of their objects. Semler's Residence has been categorized among the iconic buildings of world architects, such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Antoni Gaudí, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and many others.
This year, the ICONIC HOUSES conference will take place for the first time in the Czech Republic from May 22 to 26. As part of one section of the conference, professional lectures will be held in Prague, where Petr Domanický, curator of the architecture collection at the West Bohemian Gallery, will present the newest member of the network – Semler's Residence. However, a key part of the conference will be house tours; in the case of Plzeň, these are the implementations of concepts or projects by Adolf Loos, as the city boasts the largest number of his realizations after Vienna. The tour program is prepared by the organization Plzeň – TURISMUS in cooperation with the West Bohemian Gallery in Plzeň.
“Semler’s Residence deserves to be in the company of other iconic buildings of the 20th century. Although the realization is primarily the work of Heinrich Kulka, we can consider it a certain culmination of Adolf Loos's many years of activity in Plzeň, which is, after Vienna, the second most significant hub of his work. I also view the inclusion as a recognition of the work of all who participated in the restoration and renovation of the house, and of course the West Bohemian Gallery in Plzeň, which organized everything and operates the site,” adds Petr Domanický, author of the Semler Residence exhibitions and restoration guarantee for the West Bohemian Gallery.
The historic residential interior of Oskar and Jana Semler, created between 1933 and 1934, ranks among the foremost monuments of modern architecture in Central Europe. It does not have classic floors; its individual spaces of varying heights are organized around a central living hall at six levels. This solution, called Raumplan, connects with Loos’s concept of the Müller Villa in Prague. The Plzeň Region acquired the residential building in 2012 and entrusted its management to the West Bohemian Gallery in Plzeň. The restoration and renovation of the object took place in three stages: the first began in 2013, while the last and most demanding took place from 2019 to 2022. The residence opened to visitors on September 23, 2022, and has enjoyed great interest since its accessibility.
The visitor center of Semler's Residence is open daily except on Mondays from 10 am to 6 pm.
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