Signed. Arnold ‘s dilapidated villa in Brno awaits reconstruction Culture News Brněnská Drbna
The years of decay and hardship are over, Arnold’s villa regains its lost charm. The Brno City Museum (MuMB), which manages the building, is beginning the reconstruction of the architectural monument. The city received the necessary subsidies and new contractors for the repair, which amounts to almost 150 million crowns.
The Art Nouveau building from the 19th century has long been one of the most endangered monuments in the city. But now it is clear that the former seat of the famous German builder Josef Arnold will be saved. The city received the necessary money for the repair and has now agreed on the conditions of the contractor who carried out the renovation of the monumental building.
“We managed to obtain subsidies from both Norwegian funds and national sources so that, as in the case of Villa Tugendhat, we could carry out a full rehabilitation and breathe new life into the entire complex of villas., “Said the mayor of Brno Markéta Vankova (ODS).
Cafe, exhibitions and research
Arnold’s Villa, located in the Černá Pole district, is one of the oldest villa houses in the city. It has been standing in Drobný since 1862, and the builder and stonemason Josef Arnold lived there with his family for twenty-one years. In the following years, several owners changed in the house. During the Second World War, the German Gestapo settled in the listed building, and in the 1950s a kindergarten moved into the building. However, due to the unsatisfactory technical condition of the building and poor hygienic conditions, the children had to leave the premises less than ten years ago. Since then, the architectural gem has remained at the mercy of fate.
Now, thanks to the renovation, which has been the subject of several debates in the Moravian metropolis, a so-called Dialogue Center will be established in the villa, which will introduce visitors to the architecture and history of the 19th and 21st centuries. century. The plan is to organize exhibitions, for example, educational researchers also receive lectures and facilities. The project also includes the construction of a large hall or cafe.
“The Brno City Museum, as an investor, now faces a great challenge in the monumental restoration of the villa and thus to include it among other monuments and tourist attractions not only in Brno and the region of South Moravia, but also in the Czech Republic. I firmly believe that thanks to the wide portfolio of experts in the museum, we will be able to handle this task, “Said the director of MuMB Zbynek Šolc.
The city of famous villas
In addition to the reconstruction itself, it is being prepared revitalization of the garden and its extension by another plot. The garden will be connected to the neighboring villa Löw-Beer, which will create a new passage from Lužánky to Černé Polí. The city is currently working on how to handle project financing.
Thanks to the restored monument, a unique architectural trail will be created in the Moravian metropolis. The Tugendhat building and the aforementioned former headquarters of the factory owner Alfred Löw-Beer are located in the immediate vicinity of Arnold’s villa. People have been coming to Brno for a long time to admire other architectural treasures. These include the Dušan Jurkovič Villa near Wilson’s Forest or the Stiasnni Villa, where the Cuban revolutionary and President Fidel Castro once spent the night.