Osvald Polívka
Illustration — Polívka in 1896 Osvald Polívka (24 May 1859 in Enns – 30 April 1931 in Prague) was Czech architect associated with the Art Nouveau period in Prague. Polívka designed many of Prague's significant landmarks of the era, plus other work in Brno and elsewhere. After graduating from Czech Polytechnic in Prague, his first important commission was a collaboration with Antonín Wiehl, the 1894 Prague City Savings Bank.
Also recorded as Oswald Polívka · Osvalda Polívky · Oswald Polivka · Karel Osvald Polívka
Osvald Polívka
Jan Tomáš · Světozor, year 1895-6, issue 52, digitized by Czech Academy of Sciences · Public domain
- Born
- 1859 · Enns.
- Died
- 1931 · Prague.
- Nationality
- Czech Republic
- Occupation
- architect · urban planner · draftsperson
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Illustration — Polívka in 1896 Osvald Polívka (24 May 1859 in Enns – 30 April 1931 in Prague) was Czech architect associated with the Art Nouveau period in Prague. Polívka designed many of Prague's significant landmarks of the era, plus other work in Brno and elsewhere. After graduating from Czech Polytechnic in Prague, his first important commission was a collaboration with Antonín Wiehl, the 1894 Prague City Savings Bank.
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Osvald Polívka (1859–1931) was a Czech architect, draftsperson and urban planner. Born in Enns, the architect died in Prague. Osvald Polívka worked in Hradec Králové, Prague and Prostějov.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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wikidata · Q7108033 · wikipedia · Osvald Polívka
In this article
Major architectural projects
Major architectural projects
Polívka's style evolved through his active years but he remained devoted to the collaborating with artists for aesthetic effect. For the ornate landmark Municipal House he coordinated the work of many significant Czech muralists and sculptors of the time, including his friend Alfons Mucha. He is buried at Olšany Cemetery in Prague.
• Prague City Savings Bank, Old Town Square, together with Antonín Wiehl, 1894, with distinctive architectural sculptural groups by Bohuslav Schnirch • Zemská Banka head office, Na příkopě, 1895-1896 • Assicurazioni Generali offices, now the Viola Building, with Friedrich Ohmann, #7 Wenceslas Square, 1897 • U Nováků department store, 1902–1903 • co-architect with Municipal House (Obecní dům), with Antonín Balšánek, 1904–1912 • Topič House, c. 1905 • the New Town Hall of Prague, 1908–1911, with architectural sculpture by Stanislav Sucharda, Josef Mařatka and Ladislav Šaloun • Gallery of Modern Art in Hradec Králové, 1912, with allegorical sculpture by Šaloun flanking the entrance • Illustration — New Town Hall, Prague • Illustration — Czech Trading Company, Prague • Illustration — Teuna Waterworks • Illustration — Municipal House, Prague
Palác Živnostenské banky (Na příkopě 860/24), 1900, arch. Osvald Polívka
Public domain - Kramerius Digital Libraryː Architektonický obzor. Praha: Spolek architektů a inženýrů v Království českém, 6.12.1905, 4(12), s. [53]. ISSN 1803-3350. url: https: kramerius5.nkp.cz/uui
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
Explore 1859–1931
The full dated record · 19 entries
1859
Osvald Polívka was born on 24 May 1859.
1902
Haštalská 6 is dated 1902.
1903
Water tower in Nymburk is dated 1903.
1903
Karlova 24 is dated 1903.
1903
Spálená 55 is dated 1903.
1904
Rašínovo nábřeží 78 is dated 1904.
1904
Dům U Nováků is dated 1904.
1905
Rašínovo nábřeží 70 is dated 1905.
1905
V kolkovně 5 is dated 1905.
1905
Karlova 22 is dated 1905.
1905
Spálená 1 is dated 1905.
1906
Topičův dům is dated 1906.
1907
Pojišťovna Praha is dated 1907.
1909
Jungmannova 15 is dated 1909.
1910
Moskevská 77/4 is dated 1910.
1911
New City Hall is dated 1911.
1912
Municipal House is dated 1912.
1929
Nekázanka 7 is dated 1929.
1931
Osvald Polívka died on 30 April 1931.
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Enns.
Birth place
Prague.
Death place
Context
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Context
The circumstances in which Osvald Polívka stands.
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reference work
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q7108033: Osvald Polívka
Reputable secondary · Wikimedia Foundation
- “Osvald Polívka”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority file
- VIAF cluster 8448594 for Osvald Polívka, aggregating national library name authorities.
General reference · OCLC
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authority file
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Wikidata, structured authority record Q7108033: Osvald PolívkaWikimedia Foundation
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Secondary witness
Further particulars
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Further particulars
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One child is recorded: Dušan Polívka. Recorded with the occupation urban planner. Recorded as architect, urban planner and draftsperson.
Identity and origins
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
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