Repair of Arnold's Villa in Brno for 99 million could start in the autumn

Brno – The renovation of the Arnold Villa in Brno, which is adjacent to the famous Tugendhat Villa, could start as early as this autumn. It depends on the progress of the tender for the construction works, said Alena Šedivá, spokesperson for the Museum of the City of Brno, which cares for the monument. The renovation of the villa will cost about 99 million crowns.

"The Museum of the City of Brno has already signed a partnership agreement with the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design in Oslo for cooperation on the project, fulfilling one of the important conditions for obtaining a grant from the so-called Norwegian funds," Šedivá stated.

The city can receive a grant from the Norwegian funds of up to 38.5 million crowns for the renovation. The grant application is currently being verified. The verification should be completed by March. "As soon as we receive a final decision on the grant allocation, we will initiate the tender for the construction works, a process that may take several months or longer. If everything goes smoothly, the start of construction works could be estimated for the autumn of this year," she added.

The last private owners of the villa perished during World War II. From the 1950s until 2013, the villa served as a nursery, after which it was empty. During a structural and historical survey, a number of original elements, such as floor tiles and window fittings, were found.

The Museum of the City of Brno is preparing for multiple uses of the villa. Lectures and discussions can be held on the ground floor. A Center for Dialogue will also be established, focusing on Czech-German-Jewish relations. There are also plans for a café, a permanent exhibition about the history of the villa, spaces for temporary exhibitions, a research room, and an archive.

The long sloping garden of the villa will be accessible during the day, allowing passage between Drobného and Černopolní streets. The renovation project also includes a complete restoration of the garden. The house stands in close proximity to the accessible Tugendhat and Löw-Beer villas, but it is older. It was built for the builder Josef Arnold in the 1860s.