The Olomouc villa Primavesi has a renovated staircase in the hall

Primavesi Villa in 1999

Olomouc - The wooden staircase, railings, and wall cladding in the hall of the Art Nouveau Primavesi villa in Olomouc, which is a national cultural monument, have been restored. Experts have been restoring it since February and completed their work recently. The oak wood railing, originally created in the early 20th century, was reinforced, and together with the staircase was cleaned and given a new finish. The total costs reached several hundred thousand crowns, nearly half of which will be covered by a grant from the Olomouc Region, said the owner of the property, Pavla Honzíková.
      According to restorer Václav Malý, the structure of the Anglican-style wooden staircase was loose, with the joints being loosened. The surface was dirty, contaminated with glue, and 95 percent of the finish was missing. The railing was wobbly. During the investigation, experts also found improper modifications such as glued joints and non-original nails and screws. "We dismantled the railings, wall cladding, and partially the staircase. We restored the structural defects in the workshop. We cleaned the surface and renewed the finish," Malý stated.
      His colleague Miloslav Zajíček added that it was necessary to devise a way to secure the staircase. "We used original methods during the work," he mentioned.
      The owner does not plan any further major interventions in the villa in the foreseeable future. "We will only carry out maintenance work. The money I obtain from the house is reinvested. A lot of confirmations and requests are needed for all work, and bureaucracy delays and increases costs," Honzíková remarked. However, she highly appreciated the craftsmen's work on the staircase. "It has been done very carefully. The staircase will not be used for everyday operation to avoid quick wear and tear. However, we will open the hall for various social events," she added.
      The national cultural monument Primavesi Villa is among the most significant Art Nouveau buildings in Moravia. It was built in 1905 as the family residence of banker Otto Primavesi and his wife Eugenie, a well-known Viennese actress. The villa is the work of a pair of architects, Franz von Krause and his associate Josef Tölk. Leading Viennese artists, notably architect Josef Hoffmann, sculptor Anton Hanak, and painter Gustav Klimt, contributed to the interior decoration. It now houses several company offices and a restaurant. It was declared a national cultural monument last year. In 2006, the villa received a new facade.