Brno residents besieged Jurkovič's villa, more than 1000 of them came

Brno - The Secessionist Jurkovič Villa in Brno experienced an extraordinary influx of visitors over the weekend, having opened to the public for the first time since 1906. The Moravian Gallery, which recently acquired the building and is preparing for renovations, welcomed more than a thousand interested people instead of the reported 350. "Those gallery employees who had time came to guide visitors. We also had to speed up the tours," said Hana Doležalová from the art museum to ČTK.
    Due to the interest of Brno residents, the gallery decided to open the villa on additional dates before the start of renovations. However, specific dates will not be published in the media to avoid a similar crowd. People are to register by phone at the gallery's secretariat and they are expected to learn the time of the tour well in advance. The capacity of the Jurkovič Villa, built solely for family use, is significantly limited. For example, there should not be more than five people at once on the first floor.
    The final count of weekend visitors would have been even higher if the gallery staff had counted those who did not want to wait up to two hours for a tour and were satisfied with just a walk in the blooming garden.
    Slovak Dušan Samo Jurkovič (1868 to 1947) is one of the most prominent architects who worked in the Czech lands at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. He uniquely combined Art Nouveau and other modern movements with the tradition of folk architecture. His famous works can be found in the Beskids at Pustevny, spa buildings in Luhačovice, or the renovations of the castle in Nové Město nad Metují. He designed and built the villa in Brno-Žabovřesky for his own use.
    "Its significance lies in how the architect managed to combine the most current trends, influences from England and Vienna, and inspiration from folk art," said curator Martina Straková from the Moravian Gallery.
    Jurkovič sold the villa while he was still alive, and it later changed owners several times. Since the 1960s, it has been a cultural monument, although it continued to be inhabited by the owners' family. The Moravian Gallery acquired the property last year for more than 15 million crowns. Funding for the construction and historical studies was provided by the Ministry of Culture. The gallery intends to finance the renovations through a grant from the so-called Norwegian funds. "As far as we know, the project is being rated positively, and I believe we will obtain the funds," said gallery director Marek Pokorný.
    After the repairs, which are expected to be completed in 2008, the villa will host exhibitions on Jurkovič's work, contemporary architecture, and a research center. According to a recently completed historical and construction survey, the wooden building is in good condition.