Experts are to refine the renovation plan for the Tugendhat villa by March

Brno - Architects and conservationists should reach an agreement by the end of February next year on how to reinforce the foundations of the Brno functionalist villa Tugendhat. The structural stabilization of the building has been a point of contention for both parties. The method of reinforcement proposed by the designers was not acceptable to the conservationists, as it supposedly would interfere too much with the unique construction of the house. Therefore, a group of independent structural engineers evaluated the dispute between the two sides. Brno has now agreed with the design firm to change the structural solution, said Ladislav Macek, the deputy mayor, to ČTK today.
    "The change in the structural report has been discussed with the firm Omnia so that the statement from the heritage office will be positive,” said Macek. According to him, the project redesign and its evaluation by the conservationists should be completed by the end of February next year. If the heritage department of the South Moravian Region approves the new solution, officials will be able to issue a building permit and announce a competition for a construction firm.
    According to Macek, around 20 million crowns has been allocated in Brno's proposed budget for next year for the Tugendhat villa. If the funds are not sufficient and more money is needed for the construction work, it can be resolved in the investment plan. "It's hard to say today when the construction site will be handed over and when the actual work will begin. It could be in November, it could be in June,” Macek stated.
    The restoration of this heritage site, which is the only Czech modern art building inscribed on the UNESCO list, will cost more than 100 million crowns. Therefore, Macek expects considerable interest from companies in the contract.
    The conservationists had reservations about the proposed solution to reinforce the structure because the villa Tugendhat is exceptionally valuable due to its construction solution. The building consists of a steel skeleton, and the floors are not supported by walls but only by slender chrome pillars. Such a construction allowed architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886 to 1969) to clad the house with large glass panels, some of which could even be recessed into the ground. Mies, considered the father of modern architecture of the 20th century, thus breathed life into his idea of inhabitable continuous space; the surrounding environment literally entered the house through the glass walls.
    The villa has been on the UNESCO cultural heritage list since 2001. A year later, its conservation restoration was supposed to begin. However, its start has been repeatedly postponed due to disputes among the teams participating in the selection process for the designer. The descendants of the original owners recently requested the return of the monument from Brno due to the delays, but the city council refused. Later, the city offered them the opportunity to participate in the planning of the heritage restoration. They have not yet responded to the offer.