The famous Rothmayer villa will be accessible to the public after renovation

Prague - The Gallery of the Capital City of Prague (GHMP) is renovating the Rothmayer villa in Střešovice. The house, which has been declared a cultural monument, is surrounded by scaffolding. Workers are carrying out construction modifications to be subsequently replaced by restorers. The long-prepared reconstruction of the famous Prague villa will cost 23 million crowns and will be completed by the end of next year. The two-story family house, built by architect Otto Rothmayer for his family in 1928, will then, similarly to the Müller villa some time ago, be opened to the public, Milada Novotná said in an interview with ČTK on behalf of the gallery.
    Otto Rothmayer, a student and later a collaborator of the prominent Slovenian architect Josip Plečnik, designed not only the house including the interiors but also the garden, its fencing, and outdoor furniture. The garden also became the site of famous photographs taken by photographer Josef Sudek. Rothmayer's family lived in the Střešovice villa until 2008. At that time, the architect's son sold the villa to the city of Prague under the condition of complete reconstruction and accessibility.
    "The villa has undergone non-original construction changes in the past. With the reconstruction, we want to return it to its state from the 1950s," Novotná said. The terrace, which additionally leaks into the house, is being completed. Workers must also remove moisture from the walls, repair damaged plaster, replace floors, and upgrade utilities. Restorers will then focus on wooden parts of the interior. "They will restore decorative wooden elements, such as shutters, sills, and built-in as well as free-standing furniture," she added. Then the garden and fencing will be addressed.
    The renovated villa, complemented by the works of its author, will serve as a so-called house museum. Smaller groups of visitors will be able to view it by prior arrangement.