Praha 10 will buy the house of Karel Čapek, decided the council

Prague - The representatives of Prague 10 today approved the purchase of a part of the double villa of the Čapek brothers. Half of the house, where the writer Karel Čapek lived with his wife Olga Scheinpflugová, is for sale. The municipality is expected to pay 43.891 million crowns for the property and Čapek's estate. The contract with the owner Karel Scheinpflug could be signed as early as today. Also speaking at the meeting was the Minister of Culture in resignation Jiří Balvín, who supported the purchase of the house and offered the municipality expert assistance in planning the future of the villa.
    The representatives also approved the establishment of a commission of experts to deal with the further use of the property. The municipality wants to open it to the public.
    Prague 10 reserved the purchase of the villa several months ago. Last week, information emerged that there were foreign interested parties in the house. They were reportedly willing to pay 55 million crowns for the villa, the amount that owner Karel Scheinpflug originally requested. However, according to Mayor Bohumil Zoufalík (Independents), he decided to sell the property for less money to the municipality. "I really thank you, I appreciate it very much, this is a thank you for several million crowns," said Zoufalík.
    The Čapek brothers had the double house built in Vinohrady between 1923 and 1924 according to the design of architect Ladislav Machoň. After their death, the house was inherited by relatives.
    Prague 10 is expected to become the owner of the house, the adjacent land, and the furnishings of the villa. This will allow it to acquire many interesting personal belongings of Čapek, his library, or items from his travels. According to Zoufalík, the rooms look as if Čapek just left them. In the attic of the house is Čapek's study or the room where the famous Friday Group gathered, including the president of Czechoslovakia Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk.