Volmanova vila (Záboří nad Labem) Villa

Welcome to Záboří nad Labem. You are standing in front of a building that immediately attracts the attention of anyone who passes through the centre of the village. In front of you is Volman's villa, a beautiful representative of architecture from the early 20th century. The first impression of this building is a sense of stability and order, which exactly corresponds to the time it was created. Feel its overall appearance and note how harmonically it fits into the surroundings, although it stands out in its size and style above the normal installation.

Let us now stop at how this building was created and who was its creator. At the beginning of the twentieth century, namely in the year of the ninth century, the foundation of this mansion was laid. The construction was not random, but it was to serve as a year-round home for a man who played a very important role in the village at the time. His name was Antonín Volman. It was not just a common population, but a successful Czech manufacturer and at the same time the mayor of the village. So imagine not only living in this house, but probably dealing with important issues throughout Záboří nad Labem. The entire construction process was very fast and effective, because already in the year of a thousand devyst one the villa was completely completed and ready to move in.

Now pay attention to the architecture itself. If you look at the building as a whole, you'll notice it's built on a square plan. It gives her this sense of balance and strength. Please look up at the facade, which is the dominion of the whole house. It's symmetrical, which means the left and right sides are mirror images of each other. Notice here the rising part called risalite and look up the line where the building ends up with a bell-shaped shield. This style is called a neo-Renaissance and was meant to create a sense of grandeur and return to classical values.

Now, if you move back a little bit and look around the house, notice the garden surrounding the villa. It's a space that used to give privacy to the Volman family. A particularly interesting detail is the original cast iron fence, which still surrounds the area. Such elements are now very rare because they show the original quality and luxury with which the entire complex was designed. The whole area in the centre of the village consists of units and a whole.

But who was behind this visual plan? The author of the project was Cologne architect Jan Sklenář. He was the one who was able to combine the needs of the factory and the mayor with modern trends in architecture. Jan Sklenář designed the house to reflect the social status of Antonín Volman. At the time, the house was not only a place to rest, but it was also the owner's business card. When you look at the villa, you see the essentially embodied success of the Czech industrialist from the beginning of the last century.

It's fascinating to think how many have happened in these walls in over a hundred years. Antonín Volman spent his days here, led the village and probably planned his business moves here. The villa is not just a pile of bricks and mortar, but it is a monument to a particular era, when industry flourished in Czech countries and a new layer of self-confident citizens were formed, who wanted to leave a mark in the form of beautiful buildings.

You may be wondering what state the building was in in the last few years. It is important to know that monuments require constant care. A few years ago, in the year two thousand fourteen, the extensive repairs began of the exterior facade to reclaim its original brightness and recruits. A very significant recognition followed, because in the year two thousand and fifteen Volman's villa was officially included in the list of cultural monuments. This means that the state has recognised its irreplaceable value for the history and culture of the entire region. However, the repairs did not end only on the surface. In the year two thousand and eighteen there was a thorough repair and modification of the interior of the house to preserve authenticity even in the interior.

The interesting thing that may interest you is the combination of the functions that this house represented. Imagine the silence of the garden behind the cast iron fence and the rush that had to accompany the life of the mayor and the factory maker. This villa was a bridge between private family life and public responsibility for the administration of the village. It's a place where personal comfort meets duty to others.

Now that you know the story of this house, I suggest you see the building from different angles. Try to imagine what Záboří nad Labem looked like in the year of a thousand devyst, when this building began to grow from the ground and what pride Antonín Volman must have felt when he first entered his new residence. Feel the details of the Neo-Renaissance style and think about the people who lived and worked here.

Thank you for spending time with us at Volman's villa. We hope that you are interested in this short trip to history and that you will receive a pleasant impression from this beautiful building. We now invite you to further explore the surroundings of the village and its magic. We wish you a pleasant rest of the day and a pleasant continuation of your discovery.