Vila Hermanna Schuberta Villa

Vila Hermanna Schuberta in Hradek nad Nisou is a representative family residence built in 1924 for the Schubert factory family. The building is characterised by an architectural connection of modernism with baroque forms and is now a community centre.

The construction was built by Oswald Schubert, director of the castle branch of Hermann Schubert, producing yarn in nearby Žitava. The project was developed by Max Hans Kühne from the architectural office of Lossow u. Kühne, whose other two realization are located in the neighbouring Žitava. The entire construction process was completed in 1924.

The villa is located on Wenceslas Street and has a ground plan in the shape of the letter L. It's covered with a massive Mansard roof. The architectural design is based on baroque forms, which manifests in particular a porticus carried by massive columns connected to the northwest side facade. In the main street facade on the ground floor there are a number of half-circle arched French windows leading to the front terrace, while on the floor there are oblong windows. A ground-floor winter garden with roof terrace accessible from the floor is exited from the opposite side facade. In the exterior are preserved original terrace railing, decorative window bars, several gargoyles and outdoor lights. The interior is defined in its central space by a hall with a marble fireplace, from which it leads a representative wooden staircase to the floor. There were cellars and boiler room in the basement. Originally on the ground floor around the hall there was a dressing room, dining room, library, men's room and entrance to the winter garden, while on the floor there were private bedrooms family and children's room. The interior has preserved a number of original windows and doors including fittings, built-in cabinets or blinds.

Before 1945, the villa was owned by the Schubert family. After World War II, the building became a nursery. Since 1997, the town library has been established in the building.

In 2016 the villa was declared a cultural monument. During the reconstruction in the years 2018- 2019, emphasis is placed on the preservation of original artistic elements while at the same time adjusting the space for new use. When removing internal plaster, a fragment of the original wallpaper was found, according to which replicas were subsequently made. Thanks to the quality of the reconstruction carried out, the reconstruction was nominated for the Karel Hubáček Prize in 2020.

Since 2020, the villa has served as a community centre in which there are several non-profit organisations providing social and advisory services. The basement areas were adapted to the club rooms and facilities, the central hall serves as a reception and other multipurpose rooms were created on the floor. In the Mansard there is a common hall and apartment for the manager. The building represents an important architectural point in Hrádek nad Nisou which links the history of the textile industry with the modern function of public space. It is advisable to visit it for a tour of preserved details and understanding the history of the region.