Jindřich Jechental

Erection of the entire block, demarcated by the Vltava River on the east, Vítězná Street building numbers 444, 445 and 550 (formerly Chotkova Street) on the west, and the Legion Bridge (formerly the Franz Joseph Bridge) on the south, was the idea of Jindřich Jechental.

He purchased this Baroque bastion, which originally formed a part of the city fortification, and ordered the building of a part of the luxurious Lesser Town riverbank, stairs to Říční Street and a block of buildings that is called after him even today – Jechenthal’s Buildings. Nevertheless, the buildings at Vítězná 550/8 is not one of them.

Luxusní loft na prodej 3+kk, Praha Modřany, Praha 4

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History of the building at Vítězná 550/8

The corner building had originally faced just Vítězná Street. In 1888, Všehrdova Street was founded and plan were made for building a new extension wing, which faced the new street. Jindřich Jechental and František Hněvkovský were responsible for the construction. Towards the end of the 19th century, they ran an important project engineering and construction company, which built many buildings, among other on the Janáček Riverbank, but also in other Prague localities.

The building basement was gradually modified and balconies facing the courtyard added. They were the work of a masonry master Josef Vašek. During the first half of the 20th century, the façade facing Vítězná Street was renovated and apartments modified by leading architects Jan Bína and Aleš Hübchmann. Finally, some small apartment adjustments were implemented and gas lines and gas heaters installed between the 1960’s and 1980’s.

The building houses spacious apartments with luxurious windows that let plenty of daylight in. When you pass by, look at it and imagine a renovated façade. It is beautiful, is it not?

The luxurious Villa Tugendhat, like all important monuments, has its own story. It was designed by the architect Ludwig Miese van der Rohe who is regarded as one of the founders of Functionalism. Villa Tugendhat is regarded as his most important pre-war work, together with the Barcelona Pavilion.

Inhabitants of the luxury villa

The design for this unique building was elaborated by the architect in 1928 subject to request by the Tugendhats who lived here with their 2 children and 5 servants. However, because they were Jews, they had to leave Czechoslovakia and thus also their unique villa in 1938. The villa was confiscated by the Gestapo and registered as the property of the Greater German Reich in 1942. The aircraft designed Willy Messerschmitt was one of the people who lived in the villa during the war.

Fate of the villa after the war

The villa was confiscated in 1945 by the Red Army and used as a hostel for Russian soldiers. The whole of the architectural concept of the villa was destroyed during an air-raid on Brno, but the building structure remained intact. During the subsequent time of “peace”, the villa was used as a school of gymnastics and dance, later as a site for rehabilitation of sick children.

The building was included in the State Heritage List in 1969 and underwent fundamental reconstruction in the 80s. It has been used by Brno City Museum since 1994 and serves as a monument to modern architecture. The villa underwent overall restoration as a monument in 2010 to 2012.

Luxusní vila v Praze 6 - 465m, Praha 6

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A unique interior and luxury materials

The architect and his co-workers strove to furnish the interior of the unique villa in such a way as to be in harmony with the style in which the building was designed, i.e. functionalism. This is why you will find here furniture made predominantly from steel tubes and panels and from fine woods such as Macassar ebony, rosewood or zebrawood. Rare onyx from Morocco is also found in the materials used. You will not find single luxury decoration or work of art in the villa. Except for one statute – the torso of a girl by Wilhelm Lehmbruck dating back to 1913.

Invitation to take a tour

During a tour of the villa, you can visit the basement which houses technical equipment, represented by hot-air heating and cooling, electric window control and a photocell at the entrance. There is also an exhibition which will introduce you to the architect and the life of the Tugendhat family. The villa is also home to a Study and Documentation Centre. If you decide to visit Villa Tugendhat, check availability in advance. It is quite likely that you will have to wait some time.