Vila Wittal Villa

Welcome to the Brno Writers. Stop for a moment, take a breath and look ahead. You're standing in front of a building that's much more than just an ordinary house. He's a silent witness to the stormy century, a place where the courage of modern architecture collided with the cruelty of history. In front of you are Vila Wittal's, a building that, even today, after many decades, seems very strange and attractive. Feel its overall character and atmosphere surrounding it. It is a place that carries within itself layers of hope, tragedy and the current pursuit of rectification.

Let us now go back almost a century in time, to the year one thousand nine hundred thirty-two. At that time Brno was one of Europe's most modern cities and this ambitious project was being developed in Pisárky. The villa was designed by an architect named Heinrich Blum. For the Wittal family of successful Jewish entrepreneurs, this building was to be the embodiment of their social position, but also their taste. Johann Wittal, his wife Friederike, and their children Ida and Adolf, were here looking for a home that fits the spirit of the time. It was a time of optimism when it was believed that new architecture could change people's lives for the better, that the purity of lines and light would bring health and prosperity.

Now pay attention to the appearance of the villa itself. If you look carefully at its shapes, you'll see it's not a rough, square block. You are faced with one of the most important examples of functionalism in Brno, but with a very interesting addition. The architect Blum inserted elements of so-called organic architecture into the project. Notice the rounded shapes that soften the rigour of modern construction. These monsters seem natural, almost as if the building had grown from the ground or been carved from one piece of material.

Take one more look at the details. Notice the elements that resemble maritime architecture. These maritime details were very fashionable at the time and should have evoked a sense of freedom, travel and openness to the world. Imagine how in the year one thousand nine hundred thirty-two this villa around Pisarik was floating like a modern ship in a green sea of gardens. Everything about her was thought out to serve a man, to be functional and aesthetically attractive. This combination of strict functionalism and soft, organic lines makes the villa a unique piece of Brno heritage.

Unfortunately, the Wittal family story in this house was neither long nor happy. When the political situation changed in the year one thousand nine hundred thirty-nine trees and terror overtook the country, this villa became a target. It was this year that the building was seized by the Gestapo. Johann, Friederike, Ida and Adolf were forced out of their home. Imagine the moment when the people who built their dream of modern life had to abandon everything they owned. Their fate was tragic and the walls became a symbol of the expropriation and suffering of Jewish families during World War II.

After the war, the villa did not return to the hands of its original owners, but its history continued in another state spirit. The building was used for state purposes, which at that time meant that there were very powerful people in its premises. Among the personalities we associate with the villa from this period are for example Klement Gottwald or Vladimír Matul. There was also Otto Koslowski. The villa thus passed from the luxury family residence as an administrative or representative area of the state. It's fascinating and at the same time freezing to think about how different worlds were taking turns in one building. From Jewish businessmen to Nazi expropriations to the top of the socialist regime.

You may now wonder why this villa is so important today. The answer lies in recognising her value. In a thousand and nine hundred and eighty-five, the villa was officially declared a cultural monument. The state realized that Heinrich Blum's architecture was irreplaceable and that the building carries too many layers of history to be forgotten or demolished.

And now we come to the latest chapter that is being written right now. In the year two thousand twenty-four the villa was taken over by the museum. That's the moment of a big turn. The building is now undergoing reconstruction and is preparing for its future use. The Vila Wittal will become a place called Štetl, which will be the center of Jewish culture. It's deeply symbolic. The place that was ripped from the Wittal family by violence and hatred is now returning to its roots. The life and culture of the people who created this villa will be remembered here, while serving as a place for education and meetings.

The interesting thing that may interest you is the contrast between the outer form and the inner content. While you can see from the outside the sea details and rounded shapes that talk about desire for freedom and modernity, the inner history of the villa talks about imprisonment, exile and loss. This villa is like a book where every room and every corner tells a different story. It's a mystery how one building can be so beautiful and so painful at the same time.

Now, if you look at the facade again, try to perceive not only concrete and shapes, but also the people who lived here. Imagine Johann's steps in the halls, Friederikina's conversations in the living room and the children who have briefly spent their youth here. Feel the silence in the building today, but it will fill the voices of visitors to the center of Jewish culture in the future.

Vila Wittal is not just a monument to architecture, it is a monument to human existence. It's a reminder that even though we're trying to build homes that are functional and modern, real value is given to them by people and their stories. And even though these stories were sometimes tragically interrupted, memory in stone and concrete persists.

Now we invite you to take a closer look at the villa. Take a walk around her, pay attention to those gentle monsters, and think about how the past intersects with the present in this place. We hope this short trip to history has helped you see more than just a beautiful house in this building. It's a bridge between the time of hope of a thousand nine hundred thirty-two and today's quest for understanding and remembrance.

Thank you for spending this time with us at the Wittal villa. We wish you a pleasant continuation in your discovery of Brno's Pissars and their hidden treasures. Goodbye.