Vila Tugendhat has been in UNESCO for 15 years

Brno - The Tugendhat villa in Brno was exactly 15 years ago placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Average annual attendance has tripled since then according to statistics from the Museum of the City of Brno. There is also an increasing variety of cultural events that utilize the extraordinary atmosphere of this functionalist gem in Černá Pole.

Experts appreciate the timeless architectural concept, unique structural and technical solutions, noble and exotic natural materials, and its integration into the urban landscape. Architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed it for the Tugendhat couple. It was built on a slope overlooking Brno between 1929 and 1930. Even back then, it drew attention for its value and progressivism.

The inscription on the UNESCO list required good preparation, contacts, and timing. "Our team was informed in advance that in 2001, the architecture of the 20th century would come to the forefront," said Iveta Černá, the current director of the villa managed by the Museum of the City of Brno.

"A positively evaluated component of the nomination was also the promise that the villa would be restored," added Černá. Builders and craftsmen restored the villa from 2010 to 2012 to a state that closely resembles the original solution.

There is great interest in visiting the villa, but capacity is small, and visitors need to book in advance. While in 2001, 9,200 people visited the villa, after its reopening, the attendance now hovers around 30,000 people annually, informed the spokesperson for the Museum of the City of Brno, Michael Kalábek. This year, 13 concerts were held in the villa, compared to just three in 2012. There is also an increasing number of dance performances and lectures.