Jurkovič Villa in Brno will reopen to the public in July

Brno - The Moravian Gallery in Brno will open the Secession-style Jurkovič Villa to the public for four days in July, which it recently acquired and is now preparing for reconstruction. During the open house in April, which represented the first opportunity to see the interior after 101 years, the interest from the public significantly exceeded the villa's capacity. More than 1,000 people visited the small building, which has a structural capacity more suitable for family use.
    Additional tours of the rare landmark are offered by the gallery on Wednesday, July 11, and from Friday, July 13, to Sunday, July 15. Those interested in visiting can register by calling 532 169 131. Admission is voluntary, said the gallery spokesperson Hana Doležalová to ČTK.
    Architect Dušan Jurkovič designed the villa in Žabovřesky for his own use. He sold it during his lifetime, and it later changed owners several times. Since the 1960s, it has been a cultural monument, but it continued to be inhabited by the owner's family. The Moravian Gallery acquired the property last year for more than 15 million crowns.
    "Its significance lies in how the architect managed to combine the most current trends, influences from England and Vienna, and inspiration from folk art," said the curator of the Moravian Gallery Martina Straková.
    After the repairs, scheduled for completion in 2008, exhibitions on Jurkovič's work, contemporary architecture, and a research center will be held in the villa. According to a recently completed historical and structural survey, the richly decorated wooden structure is in good condition.
    Slovak Dušan Samo Jurkovič (1868 to 1947) is among the most significant architects who worked in the Czech lands at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. He uniquely combined Art Nouveau and other modern movements with the tradition of folk architecture. His famous works include buildings in the Beskydy Pustevny, spa facilities in Luhačovice, and modifications of the castle in Nové Město nad Metují.