Valašské Klobouky will unveil a bench for native son, architect Gessner

Valašské Klobouky (Zlín Region) - Valašské Klobouky in the Zlín Region will unveil a bench in honor of its native son, architect Hubert Gessner, during a Friday Art Nouveau celebration. Three significant buildings in the town owe their Art Nouveau appearance to one of the most important Central European architects of the first half of the 20th century, the spokesperson of the Valašské Klobouky Town Hall, Lenka Zvonková, informed ČTK today. Gessner (1871 to 1943) studied at the Vienna Academy under Professor Otto Wagner, and his buildings can also be found in Kroměříž and Vienna.

"The Hubert Gessner bench will be an original artifact commemorating the legacy of the renowned native. Thanks to its location almost in the middle of Masaryk Square, it will offer a view of two of his splendid architectural works, the house of Jan Horný and the house U Slunce. His other realizations, the Bratmann Villa and the house of František Růžička, will be referenced at least by its artistic design," said Mayor Eliška Olšáková.

The celebration will begin at 16:00 in the garden of the house of Jan Horný. "Besides sitting under the umbrellas of the summer café and pastry shop, people will also be able to listen to period musical performances, taste some delicacies, or pose as models in a historical photo studio, which will come to Klobouky with the Luhačovice Beautifying Society Calma," said Petr Odehnal from the municipal museum.

The unveiling of the bench in Masaryk Square will take place at 19:00. The building designed by the architect in 1897 for the wealthy merchant Jan Horný will also be presented. "Subsequently, visitors will walk in a lantern parade to the house U Slunce, where they will meet with the then-mayor of the town František Bratmann and his wife Adéla. The culmination of the tour of Gessner's legacy is expected at the villa of the mayor's cousin Josef - in the Bratmann Villa, where guests will be greeted with a ceremonial toast and also a sweet reward for children. After that, there will be an evening garden celebration with a concert by the elementary art school," the spokesperson stated.