The municipal spa building in Uherské Hradiště was built according to the design of Bohuslav Fuchs in 1936 on the site of older steam and bath baths. Almost three decades earlier, Bohuslav Fuchs had begun to cooperate intensively with the Brno municipal waterworks on the creation of the entire system of public spas in the Moravian metropolis. His complex of Municipal Spas in Brno-Zábrdovice (1931–1932) had a positive international response. Bohuslav Fuchs also had a long-term professional relationship with Uherské Hradiště – he participated in the reconstruction of the municipal savings bank (1934) and the extension of the Slovak Museum. The spa building, completed in 1937 for approximately 1.2 million crowns, was built on an area of ​​359 m2. The four-story horizontal building was constructed as a monolithic reinforced concrete structure with a characteristic ribbed ceiling and flat roof. The facade was rhythmic with strips of windows of various sizes and a smoothly plastered strip. Generous windows brought plenty of daylight into the interior. The spa was designed as a comprehensive facility for physical hygiene and recreation. On the ground floor there was a smaller swimming pool (4.5 x 11.11m) and pools with hot and cold water, two massage tables, a sitting bath, a drinking spring, a foot bath, cleansing showers and a Finnish and steam sauna. The main swimming pool was located on the second floor, with an open vaulted ceiling and a gallery, where the barber, manicurist and pedicure and buffet were located, and there was a relaxation room overlooking the main pool. For the daily hygiene of the city's inhabitants, eleven baths, nine showers and two baths with a curative crust on the third floor were also intended, the terrace of which turned towards the courtyard served as a sun bath.
The spa was a popular place of rest for residents of Uherské Hradiště of all ages, and for years it served as a swimming school for the entire region. The building underwent a fundamental transformation in 1971, when a new swimming pool hall was built during the reconstruction. This intervention meant the disappearance of the roof terrace and thus disrupted the original architectural concept. At the same time, the original sign "spa" in minus signs above the entrance was replaced with a distinctive uppercase sign "LÁZNĚ".
After the opening of a new swimming pool in a nearby sports complex in the early 1990s, the city spa lost its original meaning. Operation was terminated in 1992 and the building remained closed. In 1997, the city sold it to a private owner, who, however, let the building fall into disrepair. In 2003, the spa was declared a cultural monument. And since 2014, a number of actions have been taking place to save it. The new private owner is currently completely reconstructing the building, but its function will change significantly, with 24 residential units and a restaurant to be built.
Lucie Valdhansová