The Workers’ House on Jamborova Street in Brno’s Židenice district is an important cultural monument built in a historicist style. Since its origin, it has served as a multifunctional venue for community life, culture, and education for local residents.
The building was initiated by the Association for the Construction of the Workers’ House in Juliánov, founded in 1896, and was officially opened on 15 August 1897. It was one of the first workers’ houses in the Brno region. Originally, it was a single-storey building with a hall, restaurant, and garden. In 1898, a people’s theatre was established here, and from 1912 films were screened on the premises (under the name “Theatre of Living Pictures”). The building acquired its present form in 1925, when an additional storey was added. After 1951, it was administered by the works club of the Zetor Líšeň trade union organisation, and the popular “Sport” summer cinema operated in its grounds. At the end of 1993, the building was leased to the municipal district of Brno-Židenice, and in 2003 it was purchased by the City of Brno.
The Workers’ House is a terraced, single-storey building with a rectangular plan and a pitched roof. The façade is richly articulated with rows of windows framed by profiled surrounds and parapet cornices. The building’s uniqueness is highlighted by figurative reliefs above the two entrances: on the left, two workers in labour clothing are depicted shaking hands against a stylised sun. On the right, there is a relief featuring two theatrical masks, referencing the building’s long cultural tradition. The interiors have been adapted for contemporary use.
Between 2017 and 2022, the Workers’ House underwent a comprehensive refurbishment. The historically protected façade was restored, and the main hall was extensively renovated, gaining modern theatre technology, air conditioning, and a new fireproof stage curtain. The restoration also included the restaurant area, redesigned with the involvement of the artist Timo, as well as an outdoor seating space. Today, the Workers’ House continues to serve as an active venue for social and cultural events and remains an important local community centre
