Vila Preciosa in the Karlovy Vary district of Westend has become a cultural monument

Karlovy Vary - The Karlovarská Vila Preciosa, which is part of the luxurious villa colony known as Westend, is a protected monument. It is the second declared cultural monument in the Karlovy Vary region this year. The initiative to declare it a cultural monument came from the owners of the building themselves, stated the National Heritage Institute in Loket in a press release. The villa serves as an apartment building.

The main initiator was Helena Degerme, the chairwoman of the homeowners' association. Her initiative was supported by all apartment owners. "My lifelong motto is ‘Patrimonium pro futurum – heritage for the future' and the villa certainly deserves to be saved as one of the architectural gems of Karlovy Vary," Degerme stated.

The villa was built between 1902 and 1903 in the style of elegant French neo-Renaissance. Its builder and architect was Josef Waldert, who significantly influenced the face of Karlovy Vary. It is an example of representative villa architecture of late historicism in Karlovy Vary. Its architecture contributes to the typical character of the oldest and most significant villa district, Westend, which has developed since the 1870s. It is part of the spa heritage reserve, which has been a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Famous Spa Towns of Europe since 2021.

The significance of the villa lies in its high level of authenticity in both the exterior and interior. The façades feature rich stucco decor and original fillings. The mansard roof retains a historic covering made of natural split slate and decorative elements of the prominent mansard cornice. The representative design of the villa is highlighted by the stucco decoration of the shared staircase spaces and other decorative interior elements such as flooring, railings, and the elevator cage, according to the report.

In the Karlovy Vary region, the House of King English was also declared a cultural monument this year, located above the Mill Colonnade in the center of the spa zone. In Karlovy Vary, it is one of the last preserved late classicist buildings with its external expression and internal layout featuring original interior elements.