Lassmanova vila House

Welcome to part Předměstí. You are facing one of the most interesting examples of modern architecture in this city. In front of you is Lassman's villa, two buildings that at first sight seem very brave and clean. If you look at them carefully, you will see that they are not ordinary family houses, but buildings that, at the time of their creation, have gone beyond ordinary housing ideas. Feel their strict lines and the sense of stability that radiates from them. It's a place where functionality meets the idea of luxury and social status.

Now let's go back a little bit in time to understand why these buildings were built and in what atmosphere they were built. Let's move on to the 1930s. It was a time of great change when the architecture began to promote new directions that rejected unnecessary ornaments and sought beauty in geometry and reason. It was in this spirit that the villas were designed for two brothers, Augustus and Erich Lassmann. They were both respected lawyers, which explains why they wanted a mansion that reflected their success, education and modern thinking.

The construction of the villa Augustus Lassmann began in the year nine thirty-two and one year later in the year nine thirty-thirty was completed. Almost immediately afterwards, probably in the year nine thirty-four, a neighbouring villa for Erich was built. They were houses designed for a higher social class, people who wanted to live in accordance with the new age. Imagine the impression these white, square buildings had to give to the inhabitants of Opava, who were used to traditional houses with slant roofs and rich window frames.

Now pay attention to the very appearance of the buildings. Look at their overall composition. Notice that each of these villas is made up of three prisms. It's a very clean and logical system. Look up at the roof. They're flat, which was a symbol of modernity and courage at the time. The architect Otto Reichner, who designed these structures, worked very cleverly with the space. If you look at both villas at once, notice the fascinating detail of the mirror layout. Buildings are basically like reflections of each other, which creates harmony and visual equilibrium between them.

When you look at the facade, think about the interior layout. Although we're not inside, we know that the heart of both houses is the central stairwell. It is this element that connects the individual parts of the prisms and allows smooth movement between the floors and the upper spaces. The whole style you perceive is called constructivism. It is a direction that places emphasis on design, space and function. Nothing here is useless, every corner and every line has its meaning.

Now let's move on to the people who were connected to this place. The Augustus and Erich Lassmann brothers didn't just build houses here, they created space for their private lives and jobs. As lawyers, they had to be credible and representative, and it was these villas that helped them. It was houses where probably important meetings were held and where the old Opava elite would gather. Unfortunately, however, history has brought tough turns. In the year nine and forty-five, the Lassmann family was relocated. It was a sad break that meant the end of their connection to these houses and the subsequent change of ownership. The family had to leave their mansions, which with such care helped to build.

But it is wonderful that time has helped to recognise the value of these structures. In the year nine hundred and ninety, Augustus Lassmann's villa was officially declared a cultural monument. By doing so, the state admitted that these buildings are not just ordinary houses, but are an important testament to the architecture of its time that must be protected for future generations.

Perhaps one interesting thing will interest you now. Try to imagine what challenge it was for architect Otto Reichner to design two buildings that are mirrored, but at the same time they must be fully functional for two different people, even if they were brothers. Mirror layout is not just an aesthetic trick, it's a mathematical puzzle that requires precise planning of each square meter. It's basically an architectural dialogue between two buildings that complement each other.

When you stand before these villas today, see them as monuments of courage. The courage of architects who were not afraid of new shapes, and the courage of owners who wanted to live in modern style. These buildings have survived unrest, regime changes, and the rotation of generations, and they still tell us the story of ambition, law and beauty of geometry.

I wish you to take a sense of admiration for the purity of the lines and the history that is encoded in these walls. Now I invite you to explore the surroundings in peace and try to capture the fascinating mirroring of both villas from different angles. Walk slowly through the space around them and perceive the atmosphere of the Opava Předměstí.

Thank you for your attention and I wish you a pleasant continuation of your journey through the beautiful places of our city. Goodbye.