Petition against the demolition of the villa of industrialist Jandera in Ústí nad Orlicí

Significance of the Architectural Work
The house is historically and architecturally valuable at first glance. It belongs to the architecture of pre-war modernism. Within the urban development, it is undoubtedly a significant element with a pronounced cultural and historical context. The villa in question is important for the character of the city's development and its historical identity. In the case of a successful reconstruction that respects the historical essence of the object, it can be stated that it has a significant cultivation potential, not just for the immediate surroundings, but for the overall image of the city. Moreover, it is very important that the house directly refers to the urban and architectural situation for which architect Kamil Roškot adapted the theater building.

This villa belongs to one of the leading families of textile industrialists, whose activities were essential for shaping the city in the 19th and the first half of the 20th century. The site for the villa was acquired by the founder of a mechanical weaving factory near the old train station - Adolf Jandera (*1836 – † 1910), and it is likely that his wife, Julie Janderová, and their children lived there, followed by their son Bohuslav (*1889 – † 1975), who continued to lead the family firm "Adolf Jandera" since 1915, together with his uncle Jaroslav Jandera. The villa was completed in May 1911 and partially modified in 1933. In the neighborhood, they built the still-existing structures of the Adolf Jandera department store in 1937–1938 and also a villa for Jaroslav's son, Jaroslav Jr. Jandera (Lukesova St. No. 311).

The villa stands on the site of an older object that is documented as part of the historical settlement structure of the Ústí suburb. The northeast façade with a terrace opens the villa to its original extensive garden with old mature trees, now a public park, for whose revitalization its demolition is paradoxically planned. The villa has preserved its original floor plan and predominantly also its mass disposition; the shape of the roof and the basic layout of the façades, including window and door openings, have mostly been retained. The stylistic affiliation is indicated, in addition to the layout, by a number of authentic, well-crafted artistic and craft elements, such as the decorative cladding of the entrance façade's risalit, the staircase railing, some window and door fillings, and certain details of the façades. The characteristics could be further refined based on a more detailed inspection. The above-mentioned context of the villa as a heritage site is important. It is situated in an environment of cultural monuments in terms of the law on state heritage care – four older houses in Lukesova and Zahradní streets southwest of the villa (from a larger ensemble of folk buildings) and particularly significant functionalist buildings in a national context, the national cultural monument of Roškot's theater, located northeast of the villa and built between 1935-1936, when the villa had already been completed.

From the Further History of the Villa
Until the end of the 1940s, the villa was the residence of manufacturer Bohuslav Jandera, and it also did not escape nationalization in March 1949. Based on Act No. 87/1991 Coll. on extrajudicial rehabilitations, it was returned to the ownership of the descendants of the Jander family in May 1999. Over the years, the villa has served as a kindergarten, headquarters of the Red Cross, headquarters of the Czech Union of Fighters for Freedom, and mainly as a residence for the DDM (Children's Home). In 2014, the city purchased it from the owners. Since then, it has not been utilized.

Demolition of the Building
The intention to demolish seems to be quite problematic, particularly emphasizing the historical and architectural value of the house and its overall cultural-historical contexts (see above). The city would lose a quality modernist architecture. Discussions about the future of the object should be based on comprehensive data, primarily from assessing the historical-architectural value, cultural-historical and contextual value, as well as from substantiated and qualified evaluations of the structural and technical condition. The city does not proceed in this manner and is preemptively trying to downplay the value of the object. Overall, the available information, on which a fundamental decision about the demolition has been made, can be assessed as absolutely insufficient and superficial. Ethically, it can be noted that the city has been directly responsible for the condition and use of the house since at least 2014. During the planned municipal investment – Revitalization of the Park near Roškot's Theater, the city leadership decided on the demolition of this building. All subsequent steps were directed toward that, and only the possibility of its preservation was formally allowed. No options for utilizing or integrating the villa into the project, or the possibility of its sale, were sought or presented. Ultimately, on November 15, 2021, the City Council approved a call for its demolition. This call was approved before the City Assembly approved the completed project documentation for the park's revitalization. A proposed amendment to preserve the villa was also raised at this meeting. The assembly was not unanimous, with 5 votes in favor of its preservation, 11 for demolition, 9 abstentions, and 2 absentees. The decision to demolish the existing building should be the last option in cases where no meaningful use exists for the building, whether in the hands of the city or anyone else interested in purchasing and further operating it. We are convinced that the building is still in a condition that allows for renovation, thereby preserving it for future generations. The space in which the building is located would suffer significantly due to the demolition and lose its aesthetic and urban value.

Our Call
We respect the city’s right to manage its property; however, we cannot resign from the protection of community values and historical heritage, which would be unequivocally harmed by the villa's demolition. Therefore, we want to initiate a societal discussion about the intended demolition and jointly seek options for its preservation, use, and integration into the planned concept of the park and its surroundings.

We therefore urge the owner of the villa, the City of Ústí nad Orlicí, to reconsider the demolition plan for the Jandera villa and look for ways for its utilization.

We also request the City Council to temporarily suspend all steps leading to the commencement of demolition. We further request that the City Council open a societal discussion on this topic based on the petition, with a final decision on the preservation or demolition of this building to be made only after this discussion and subsequent deliberation in the city council. We thank you for these actions.

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