The Prague villa of architect Loose will serve as a gallery

Prague - One of the two Prague villas of the famous functionalist architect Adolf Loos will open to the public as a gallery starting Sunday. Winternitz Villa is less known than the Müller Villa in Střešovice, which serves as a museum. The Winternitz Villa in Smíchov will be open from Sunday to Wednesday between 12:00 and 18:00. Visitors will be able to view Adolf Loos's work, as well as the current exhibition. In addition, they will learn about the fate that the villa has undergone since the 1930s.

The Smíchov villa is named after the lawyer Josef Winternitz, who commissioned its construction for his family in 1932. He chose Adolf Loos and Karel Lhota as architects. The family lived in the villa only until 1941, when they were forced, under pressure of racial persecution, to transfer the villa to the Emigration Fund. The Prague municipality purchased the property from this fund and established a kindergarten in the villa. It operated continuously there until 1997.

The entire family was transported to Terezín in 1943 and later to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Only Jenny Winternitz and her daughter Suzana returned, but they never saw the villa again. The descendants learned about the villa only in 1991 during the preparation of restitutions.

Just like in the Střešovice villa, Loos applied his principle of the so-called raumplan in the Smíchov villa, which involves the varying heights of individual rooms in the house according to their function and symbolic significance. The villa is smaller than the Müller Villa, and its interiors are not as lavishly furnished; however, it bears the distinct handwriting of the famous architect.

"The newly established gallery will focus on exhibitions related to modern architecture. In available times, we would also like to provide space for young artists, whose art will be in harmony with the building," said David Cysař, the great-grandson of Josef Winternitz. "We will also try to operate the villa as a living space that offers visitors a comprehensive experience of architecture. Therefore, we are planning a rich accompanying program full of theater, lectures, and even a themed dance party in the style of the 1930s," he added. A third type of activity is more practical. To make the gallery viable, it will be possible to rent it for parties, film shoots, or weddings.

The family had been renting out the villa long-term as a corporate headquarters; however, significant public interest has convinced them, according to Cysař, to make it accessible. In February, over 5,000 visitors visited the villa. Admission costs 180 crowns, and details can be found at www.loosovavila.cz.