A Glimpse of Elegant Czech Villas

True lovers of architectural masterpieces that display virtuosity will find Prague city’s exquisite villas irresistible. There are numerous villas across Prague, which can be worth your time. These magnificent villas impose nothing but grandeur, and are open to the public. They include;

Villa Müller

The Loosova villa also known as Villa Müller is a product of the ingenious work of Adolf Loos. The villa was built between 1928 and 1930. The work was commissioned by the owning family of František Müller and Milada. The villa’s design is a true blend of the time’s classic English – styled villas with a fusion of modern functionalism, which resulted in a truly unique architectural masterpiece.

The rooms of the villa are blended in a multi-level structure devoid of individual floors as found in modern floor designs. The distinct nature of the villa suggests that the owner was in need of a design that is more unique that usual. The villa is open to public viewing and you can book a visit at the City Museum in Prague.

Villa Bílek

Villa Bílek is a two – storey house designed and built in 1911 by a Czech architect and sculptor known as František Bílek. The villa is a few minutes-walk from Prague Castle in the Hradčany neighborhood. Bílek built the building to serve as his studio-cum-residence. The scythe – shaped villa is an illustration of Bílek’s conception of a field of corn.

The brick walls of the villa accentuated by large intermittent columns, which look like a hip of sheaves of corn. The design evokes the look of Egyptian design-work. Bílek’s work did not end with the design and building of the house; he also went ahead and designed the interiors including the furniture, which was made based on his well-conceived design. The gallery of Prague city currently maintains the building since it passed into its hands in 1963. The artistic works of Bílek can also be found in the villa, and all visitors can tour the building and enjoy his impressive pieces of work.

Villa Richter

Villa Richter is a magnificent neoclassical villa found in the St. Wenceslaus Vineyard, which is actually a section of the Prague Castle complex. Currently, the villa hosts a luxurious permanent restaurant the Piano Nobile. The restaurant offers local Czech cuisine with locally sourced ingredients.

In the summer season, visitors also enjoy the sun-lit terraces that face the vineyard in the seasonal Piano Terra restaurant. The entry from the Prague castle is preferable because it offers stunning panoramic views of the city, and it is actually one of the locations where you get a good view of all the bridges in Prague. If you want to conclude your day with a nice dinner or energize your day with a meal, then Villa Richter is the ideal place to be.

Villa Rothmayer

This masterly work of the architect Otto Rothmayer was built to serve as the residence of his family. The villa has undergone some renovations, which have taken it back to its original looks from the 50s. The unique modernist style of the villa holds a permanent exhibition that contains the theme that Rothmayer and his wife intended to show through the design of their ‘modern’ home.

The home presents a distinct space full of art, work, and life, which are depicted by the artistic works of Otto Rothmayer and his wife Bo’ena Rothmayerová, who was a promoter of modern life and a popular textile artist. The villa can be visited by the public on four days of the week after making an early reservation at the Museum.

Tours can be hosted by English and Czech speaking tour guides. However, you have to remember that you cannot enter with your dog or luggage, and there is no photographing allowed.

Villa Tugendhat

Brno’s Villa Tugendhat is perhaps the most popular villa in the entire Czech Republic. In fact, the villa is considered a UNESCO cultural heritage site because of its unique nature. The first owners of the concrete reinforced villa – Mr. and Mrs. Tugendhat – commissioned the architect Ludwig Miese van der Rohe to design the building.

The villa was constructed between 1929 and 1930. It is well-known for its standards that set pace for the new and modern living standards, which incorporated high levels of functionalism in design. The villa’s design is indeed one of the earliest prototypes of Europe’s modern architecture. It is open to visitors, and you can enjoy the glimpse of the start of modern and functional architectural designs.

Villa Stiassni

Villa Stiassni was built between 1927 and 1929 for the family of Alfred Stiassni, who was a textile factory owner. The villa is a work of design by the famous architect Ernest Wiesner. It was later known as a government villa because it was used as a hotel to host a number of significant state visits by leaders such as Fidel Castro – the president of Cuba – and President Edvard Benes.

It has extensive landscaped gardens of about three hectares in its location in a luxurious neighborhood of Brno Pisárky. The house was a great architectural masterpiece, but the owners were only able to enjoy the house for a period of 10 years before the World War II broke out. The villa is open for viewing on all the weekends of the year.

Jurkovič House

The Jurkovič Villa is one of the fine examples of the development of architecture in Brno at the start of the 20th century. The building is an iconic representation of most of Jurkovič’s works in the Czech Republic, which are true pieces of Art Nouveau architecture.

The three-storey villa was constructed in 1906. The design of the villa is a combination of various architectural inspirations from the Viennese art nouveau, British modernism, and European folk culture, which is well blended to give a distinct design of its time. At the moment, the reconstructed house and its landscape are managed through Brno’s Moravian Gallery. The villa is ideal for visits, and it hosts a permanent and interesting exhibit.

Take away

Making a visit to the Czech Republic can be a tiring affair especially if you don’t know major historical landmarks across cities. It is advisable to do background research or engage the services of a tourist company before making any trip.