Štěpánova vila Villa

Welcome to Brno Frogs. Right now, you're standing in front of a building that, with its strength and elegance, attracts the attention of anyone who stops by. In front of you is Štěpánova vila, a proud family house that prints its silhouette into the northern slope of Cow Mountain. When you look at it, you see the atmosphere of ancient times when houses were built in this part of town for people with high social status. It is a place where the calm of the surrounding nature combines with the ambitions of urban development from the beginning of the last century.

Now let's move back more than a hundred years in time. In order to understand why this house was created, we have to look at the period 1912 to 1913. It was in this short period of time that the villa was built. But it was not just an ordinary building for the family, but part of a wider plan. The house was built for the Earth's secretary Jaroslav Stepan and his wife Maria. At that time, the so-called Czech official district was established. Think of it as a symbolic space that was meant to counterbalance the nearby German official district. It was a period of strong national feelings and efforts to show self-importance and stability through architecture and urbanism. Štěpánova vila thus basically served as a pod, which was intended to close the prestige and status of Czech officials within the then social order.

Now pay attention to the very form of the building. If you look at the overall composition, you will see a manifestation of modern history. It is a style that combines elements from the past with new trends of its time. In particular, notice the front of the house, that is, the front that faces the view. This part of the building was recognised as a real-estate cultural monument in 1988, suggesting its aesthetic value. Although the protection of the monument was abolished in 2020, its historical significance remains unquestionable. Look at the line of the house and see how it is written into the landscape of the slope. It's a building that should emit strength, but also family comfort.

When we think about the people who have been connected to this place, Jaroslav and Marie Stephen are primarily considered. Jaroslav, as the Earth's secretary, represented a high government administration, which meant that many important talks and social meetings were probably held in this house. It was a house designed for people who ran the Earth administration and therefore had to match their social class. Marie Štěpánová was run by a household that was at that time the center of family and social life. Imagine what it must have been like in 1913, to enter this newly completed mansion for the first time and look from the windows to the surrounding Žabovřesky.

And now I'm going to lead you to one interesting thing that might surprise you. Look again at the details of the house and try to realize who was its creator. The architect who designed this project was Valentin Hrdlička. What's fascinating about him is the fact that Hover wasn't originally trained as a home builder, but he was a carver. This experience of working in wood and detailed working of shapes is likely to be reflected in his approach to architecture. The carving sense of space and depth is often seen in how the architect approaches surfaces and ornaments. It is a fascinating idea that the house we see today as a monumental official residence came from the hands of a man who began his journey by creating tiny details in wood.

When we look at Stephen's villa today, we see more than walls and roofs. We can see the monument of the time when the city of Brno was expanding and the neighbourhood was formed with a clear national and social character. It is a silent witness to the changes that our country has been through, from Austria and Hungary to the first republic to the present. Although the status of the monument has changed in times, the building still stands as proof of the ambitions of the people who built it.

Imagine now how these spaces were lived centuries ago. What sounds accompanied the morning awakening in the house on the slope of the Cow Mountain? What looks were offered from the top floors? It's a place that encourages us to think about how much our idea of housing and representation has changed.

Thank you for accompanying me on this short trip to the history of Stephen's villa. I hope this house and the stories of the people who created it and inhabited it interest you. Now you can quietly continue your walk through the Frogs, explore the surrounding streets and perceive the atmosphere of this beautiful part of the city. I wish you a pleasant rest of the day and many other discoveries during your travels. Goodbye.