Brno will apply for a grant of 38 million for the renovation of Arnold's villa

Brno - The Brno city council approved the submission of a grant application for the repair of Arnold's villa in the Brno district of Černá pole. The villa has been on the list of the most endangered monuments since 2012. The city leadership announced this in a press release.

The project for the reconstruction of the villa, which stands next to the already accessible Tugendhat and Löw-Beer villas, has had building permission since the autumn and is expected to cost a total of just under 120 million crowns. The Museum of the City of Brno, which manages the monument, can now apply for a grant from the so-called Norwegian funds with the approval of the city council. The city expects to secure 38.5 million crowns.

"If the Museum of the City of Brno receives the grant, reconstruction should begin this autumn. We anticipate that the work will be completed by the end of April 2024 at the latest," said Petr Hladík (KDU-ČSL), deputy mayor of Brno.

The last private owners of the villa perished during World War II. From the 1950s until 2013, it served as a kindergarten, after which it remained empty. During a historical construction survey, many original elements were found, such as pavements and window fittings.

The Museum of the City of Brno is preparing for the villa a multifaceted use. Lectures or discussions can be held on the ground floor. A Dialogue Center will also be established, focusing on Czech-German-Jewish relations. There are plans for a café, a permanent exhibition on the history of the villa, spaces for temporary exhibitions, a research room, or an archive.

The long sloping garden will be accessible during the day and will allow passage between Drobného and Černopolní streets. The reconstruction project also includes a complete renovation of the garden.