In Brno, the renovation of the famous functionalist Villa Tugendhat is nearing completion

Photo: David Židlický

Brno - In Brno-Černá Pole, the renovation of the functionalist Tugendhat villa, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage list, is reaching its peak. It will be opened on February 29 next year, with the first groups of tourists starting to arrive in March. The cladding and flooring have been restored, the boiler room has been renovated, windows and doors have been adjusted, and the garden is complete.
    "We are negotiating with the descendants of the owners to acquire the original furniture for the villa. We have successfully resolved the issues we encountered during the work. Repairs are being carried out according to historical documents to ensure that the technologies used correspond to the originals," said Brno Mayor Roman Onderka (ČSSD) to ČTK today. He emphasized that the reconstruction pays close attention to detail. Even the new electrical switches in the boiler room and the lighting fixtures are identical to the originals.
    One of the most demanding tasks was the reconstruction of the boiler room, which includes two Strobell brand boilers. During today's inspection day at the villa, they were lit for the first time after restoration. Each season, the original owners used approximately a wagon of coke for heating the building. A special elevator for removing ash from the boiler room has also been restored. Interiors are being completed throughout the villa.
    Construction work is expected to be finished by the end of January next year, when the contractor - the company Unistav will start handing over the building to the city. Currently, work on the interiors is at its peak.
    In almost every room, you can find something interesting, whether it be a unique technical or architectural solution, or the materials used. Natural linoleum has already been laid in the bedroom floor, created according to the technological procedures of the supplier of the original flooring - Deutsche Linoleum Werke.
    Non-original trees were removed from the garden. Mourning willows, chestnuts, and mature acacias were planted in it. With the help of historical photographs, the supporting walls were repaired, and numerous flowers, which decorated the garden during the time the Tugendhats used it, were planted.
    The villa was built according to the plans of architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe on a plot in Brno's Černá Pole starting in June 1929. The Tugendhat family moved in December 1930. They only enjoyed the house for eight years. Fearing the Nazis, they emigrated.
    The villa has been under reconstruction since last year. The project will cost 165 million Czech crowns. The renovation can be followed at www.tugendhat.eu.