My Prague: A garden is a garden, says singer Michaela Štiková. Braník won across the board
Charity is a life-long theme for musical and opera singer Michaela Štiková. At home, she has a small daughter who was born with cerebral palsy. However, thanks to special exercises and therapies, she is making great progress. Therefore, the artist, together with her husband, founded the Aneta Foundation, which helps families with children with disabilities. Considering her daughter's needs, Štiková had to also choose suitable housing. Today, she lives with her husband Jiří and daughter Aneta in an interwar house in Prague, which she herself calls an "oasis of peace". Until recently, though, she lived in a rooftop apartment with a luxurious view of the city. In the interview, you will find out what led the family to move, and who helps the singer arrange perfect interiors.
The media buzzed with the news that you fulfilled your dream of perfect living. An attic apartment, terrace, elevator up to the living room, can you tell us about it?
I have a feeling that some, albeit small, dream comes true every day. The truth is, whether I go to the cottage or I'm at home in Prague, I feel surrounded by peace.
Because of our Anežka, we lived for two and a half years in a beautiful barrier-free apartment in Chodov. When we moved there, we were not planning to return. But man proposes, life disposes and we returned back to our beloved house in Braník. Of course, Anežka, who can handle obstacles like stairs, plays a huge part in it. There are stairs in our house at every step.
Did you design the rooftop apartment interior that looks like it's from a catalogue? Did you also help with the new housing project?
I had a clear idea of the apartment in Chodov, which is on the entire roof, and my husband liked my vision. It's diametrically different from the villa in Braník. Chodov is in zen design and the villa in Braník is first republic – my husband reconstructed it when we didn't know each other and he conceived the whole thing with Petra Kubátová Sýkorová, who really gave the villa something incredible. When we decided to return to Braník in March 2025, the villa had to undergo modifications, which I already designed with Petra and again, I am very happy that she agreed to join us, because I believe it turned out really well.
What led you to choose this particular location?
I am an immigrant, because my husband was acquiring this dwelling before we met. It was well-furnished and beautifully arranged, delicately considering the first republic house, but also manly and for one person. Before he moved in, he lived near Mladá Boleslav in a village. When we met, my husband still had his reservations and doubts about whether the house was in the right location, and he was often dissuaded by people who were explicitly for life in the middle of the city centre. But Jiřík doesn't mind that at all. On the contrary, he loves nature, enjoys peace and at the same time is happy that we can hop on public transport and be at the Old Town Square in twenty minutes. I think that even today he knows that he chose absolutely brilliantly.
So living right in the center was not your absolute priority?
I don't think so. We live really close to the center, but in a very quiet part, which suits us all very well.
Do you think Braník suitable for families with small children?
Definitely. Peace, nature. At the same time, public transport right at the house, schools around the corner, what more could you want.
Chodov and Braník - do you have any connection to these places, or did you simply fall in love with specific properties and didn't care which part of Prague you were going to live in?
The apartment in Chodov is breathtaking, but when we lived there, something was wrong. Perhaps we were missing a "home". We have strong bonds with Braník. We've experienced a lot of wonderful things here, including my husband proposing to me. But we've also faced many hardships and pain, as we struggled with great pain when we were told how sick our daughter Anežka is. Maybe this house also gave us immense strength. When we returned a month ago, we agreed that we are HOME.
It seems that you are satisfied with your current address. Definitely in a renovated house, but I mean more the surroundings, is there anything missing for you?
Everything is here. I have to say that there is much more greenery here than in Chodov. The entire apartment in Chodov is surrounded by a large terrace, but a garden is a garden, it's different. In Chodov you go out and you are among houses, that's just how it is. In Braník, we go out and we are in the forest in a moment. As has been mentioned, we have public transportation at home, we are in the center in twenty minutes. School around the corner, groceries as well. I have nothing that I would miss. I am a very grateful person and I am very happy that we live in a truly dream house, where we feel a thousand percent at home.
Source: author's text, own querying
