The state sold Havel's villa in Barrandov for 22 million

Prague – The state sold a villa in Prague's Barrandov, which was designed by architect Max Urban for Miloš Havel, the uncle of the first Czech president. The new owner purchased the functionalist house on Lumiérů Street at auction for 21.9 million crowns, reported the HlídacíPes.org website today.

The previous owner of the property was the Office for the Representation of the State in Property Affairs (ÚZSVM), which acquired the unused villa in 2018 from the State Fund for Cinematography. Last August, the office offered the house for sale at an estimated price of 30 million crowns, which it gradually reduced to 21 million. "The structural and technical condition is average, with some influence of neglected maintenance," the ÚZSVM characterized the state of the house at that time.

The state managed to sell the villa at auction only on the third attempt at the end of last week. Two potential buyers competed in the auction for the property.

"It is not uncommon for properties to be sold in multiple rounds. It depends on many factors. In this case, for example, several interested parties were concerned about the steepness of the land," said ÚZSVM spokesman Radek Ležatka to the website.

The functionalist villa at Lumiérů 41 in Barrandov was built between 1931 and 1932 according to the design of architect Urban, who also designed the nearby lookout restaurant Terasy Barrandov and the film studio building in Barrandov. The villa was commissioned by entrepreneur and film producer Miloš Havel. Later, the building served as a kindergarten.