Zlín's Zikmund Villa offers virtual tours

From a guided walk through the architecture of villas H+Z (April 2022). Source: Zlín Architectural Manual. Credit: Onomono Photography - Petr Willert

Zlín - The Zlin Zikmund villa, where traveler Miroslav Zikmund (1919 to 2021) lived for many years, has started offering virtual tours. The classic guided tours of the villa will be enhanced with video footage from Zikmund's life. Discussions with interesting guests are also planned, and soon the villa will welcome architect Josef Pleskot or Jiří Hanzelka's grandson, Jakub Brynda, representatives of the Zikmund villa foundation, which manages the villa, told reporters today. A project for the restoration of the villa's spaces, its extensive garden, and fencing is also being prepared.

The virtual tour was created in collaboration with the Technological Innovation Center (TIC) and allows exploring the villa online. "We are used to using 3D visualization at the Technological Innovation Center for various purposes, for example, for students to display modern professions or in social areas to enhance the quality of life for our seniors. I am very pleased that we could expand our portfolio of 3D applications with the tour of Zikmund's villa. I believe that the virtual walk will motivate interested parties to come to Zlín in person and learn about Miroslav Zikmund's legacy,” said TIC director Lukáš Trčka.

Last year, interest in the villa tours was great. "There were 142 tours, and in November, we welcomed our thousandth visitor. We also had 13 discussions,” said Dagmar Výlupková, director of the Zikmund villa foundation. Selected tour dates will be enhanced with video footage of Miroslav Zikmund. It was prepared by traveler and director Petr Horký. "The goal of the project is to preserve the spirit of Mr. Zikmund and to bring his life in the villa closer to the public. The virtual tour and commented videos also aim to convey the authenticity and history of this exceptional place to visitors,” Výlupková stated.

The foundation will continue its collaboration with the Baťa villa in Zlín that began last year. People will be able to visit both locations in one day. Connections with other significant Zlín villas are also being prepared.

Seventy years have passed since the reconstruction of the villa, and the building needs renovation. "Currently, we are preparing a project for the renovation of the villa's spaces and garden and its fencing in collaboration with architect Petr Všetečka and the Krejčiřík studio. It should be ready for implementation by the end of this year,” said Čestmír Vančura, chairman of the foundation. The foundation wants to present the villa to the public more and open the garden. "Cultural events, mini-concerts, readings, and discussions with interesting people should take place there. Especially in the summer, we would like to take advantage of the beautiful view of Zlín. We confirmed this last year,” Výlupková added.

The villa is a cultural monument, built between 1934 and 1935 as a Baťa house for the first governor of the Zlín district, Josef Januštík, and his wife Marie. Nine years later, it was purchased by Oscar-winning director Elmar Klos, and in 1953, Miroslav Zikmund became the owner. The villa then took on its current form. Zikmund spent nearly 70 years in the villa. In 2020, he sold it to Zlín entrepreneur and president of the Zlín Film Festival Čestmír Vančura. Vančura, in accordance with Zikmund's wishes, established a foundation that cares for the house and opened it to the public. The interior contains thousands of books and hundreds of items collected from travels around the world. The building also served as a refuge for artists, writers, and members of the dissent for many years.