Lannova vila Hotel building

Welcome to Bubeneči. You're standing in front of one of the most important buildings in this neighborhood, carrying the incredible power of history and elegance. Before you go any further, stop for a moment and feel the atmosphere of this place. The Lannova vila stands before your eyes, a building that is not only a home, but above all a symbol of a certain era where wealth, art and desire for beauty were united. Look at her face and imagine what Prague looked like at the time these stones were first placed in the ground.

Let us return together to time, namely to the years eighteen hundred sixty-eight to eighteen hundred seventy-two. These are the years when this beautiful residence began to be born here. The main representative of this project was Vojtěch Lanna mladší. But he wasn't just a common owner. He was a man of great imagination, a successful businessman and above all a significant benefactor, a man who devoted his resources to supporting artists and culture. It was his vision and his appetite for a rich, balanced life that gave rise to this summer home. The villa was supposed to serve as a resting place, a getaway from a busy city, a place for the family and for receiving important guests.

Now pay attention to the very form of the building. If you look at its overall structure, you immediately feel harmony and order. This construction represents one of the cleanest and best examples of the Neo-Renaissance style, which was only established in the then Czech countries. The architect Vojtěch Ignác Ullmann, who designed the project, was not satisfied with the mere imitation of the past. He wanted to create something that would last forever. His inspiration was the architecture of the old Italy, namely the type of settlements that were located on the edge of the cities. This style brings to our Prague landscape a sense of peace, proportion and nobility. Notice how the building lines behave towards the surrounding space, how they seem firm and yet very friendly. This whole architectural plan was intended to express the status and culture of its owner.

Now, if you look at the details that may reveal themselves around the building, you realize that each part has been designed with respect to aesthetic perfection. Even though the villa is now being used for other purposes, its external appearance still tells the story of an effort for perfection. Architect Ullmann also collaborated with other experts such as Antonín Barvitius to ensure that each part of the construction will correspond to the high demands of the time.

But the history of this place is not just the story of one family. It's a story of transformations. After long years of the villa serving the family of Lanna, in nineteen hundred thirteen changes came. The object purchased Alois Potůček, which meant another chapter in the life of this building. But the biggest break came much later, in the year one thousand nine hundred fifty-seven. That's when the villa became part of the administration of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. That was when the private, luxury mansion became a place of knowledge and scientific knowledge. Since the year one thousand nine hundred ninety-three the villa has played its current, very serious role. It serves as a representative of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. Imagine an interesting transformation: instead of family evenings and summer rest, there are now events taking place that count for the entire national scientific community.

If you have the opportunity to enter its interiors, prepare for an incredible experience. The spaces inside are richly decorated. Notice how they intersect architecture with painting art. There are paintings on the walls that capture images from mythology. These paintings, telling about old points and legends, were not chosen randomly. They were supposed to bring an atmosphere of ancient nobility and intellectual expansion into the house, which exactly matched the idea of an ideal penthouse.

You may find it strange how different worlds like this - the world of a rich businessman and the world of modern science - can unite in one building. Maybe that's where Lann's villa's biggest mystery lies. How is it possible that a building built for private joys and family happiness has managed to move so smoothly into the role of an institution that represents the highest level of human knowledge? Perhaps it is the inexorable quality of its execution, the inner strength and beauty that requires it to be protected and to serve humanity in its constant quest for truth.

When you look at this memory, you realize you don't just see the house, you see the materialized time. You see the ambitions of Vojtěch Lanna, the genius of Vojtěch Ignác Ullmann and the tireless work of scientists who work here today. Every stone and every line here tells about how our needs change, but how the need for beauty and order remains the same.

But now I will not take you out of your peace. I suggest you continue your tour of the area and pay attention to other details that may appear on your way. Let Bubeneče drift and try to find traces of the old, noble Prague in every corner. Thank you for spending this moment with us in exploring Lanna's villa. We wish you a wonderful journey and many other interesting experiences.