Header: Anna Pleslová
Czech glass artist and designer František Jungvirt has presented a new collection of glass light objects inside Villa Volman in Čelákovice near Prague. The designer transferred his trademark colours and forms into a landmark of Czech Functionalism.
Villa Volman: The masterpiece of Czech interwar Functionalism
Villa Volman was built in 1938-39 by two young architects, Jiří Štursa and Karel Janů. The duo was hired by a wealthy industrialist, Josef Volman, to create one of the most prominent works of Czech interwar Functionalism. Inspired by Le Corbusier, the architects conceived the villa as a comprehensive architectural composition.
The interiors, terraces, and the surrounding landscape were carefully connected to the building to create a coherent composition. Rational Functionalist principles were combined with expressive curves, organic details and rich material and colour palettes, an approach often referred to as emotional or expressive Functionalism.
František Jungvirt at Villa Volman
After decades of decline, the villa was restored by local entrepreneurs led by TaK Architects and reopened for the public in 2022. The renovated interior features contemporary Czech art and design while keeping the villa’s original and period elements. Jungvirt’s glass vases have been permanently installed in the villa since reopening, while the new collection develops on this relationship. For the first time, objects conceived as vessels turn into sources of light within architecture.
Jungvirt’s renowned vase collections transformed into lighting fixtures
The new collection expands on three of Jungvirt’s established series: Garden Basic, Toy and Bloom. The Garden Basic collection is known for reducing vases to their essentials. The corresponding light objects use subtle earthy tones and highlight the silhouette’s clarity. The Toy series features a more playful language.
Translated into luminaires, the expressive curves, colour, and richly detailed materials bring a fun and dynamic atmosphere to the interior. Finally, Bloom introduces the artist’s heart-shaped, ruby-red glass designs into the interior. Conveyed to light fixtures, they cast a soft, warm glow across the Volman villa.
My works have been part of the interior for several years, but the current lighting installation takes the relationship between the architecture and my work to an entirely new level. The glass objects are no longer simply interior accessories; they become direct sources of light that redefine the way the Functionalist architecture is perceived.
František Jungvirt, designer
Traditional glassblowing technique
Just like Jungvirt’s vases, the lighting pendants are handmade using traditional glassblowing techniques. Every luminaire is blown into a wooden mould, and then hand-ground, polished to high gloss or alternatively given a matte finish. The glass is then incorporated into a custom-designed metal structure. In the future, the designer plans to focus on large-scale light installations and glass sculptures for architectural projects, as well as comprehensive interior commissions.
The collection of pendants by František Jungvirt will be on view at Villa Volman till the end of October 2026. The entrance will be available as part of the villa’s regular guided tours.
