Volman's villa is often compared to Villa Tugendhat, but it also has a lot in common with another Brno beauty - Villa Stiassni. The audience of the lecture held as part of the accompanying programme of the exhibition Iconic Houses - Icons of the Czech Avant-Garde on 13 March in Brno could convince themselves. The stories of both villas were presented by Zuzana Kadlečková (curator of the Volman Villa) and Kateřina Konečná (castellan of the Stiassni Villa).
Those who listened carefully found many common denominators. Not only do both houses belong to the prestigious list of the global Iconic Houses network and boast spectacular parks, but they have much more in common.
Villa Stiassni (1927-1929) was built for his family by Alfred Stiassni, a Brno textile manufacturer. At that time, he approached one of Brno's best interwar architects, Ernst Wiesner. Although from the outside the villa corresponds completely to the purist style, inside the family set out for First Republic luxury. There are representative lounges with rich wooden panelling, marble fireplaces and historicist furniture. Villa Stiassni also includes a large terrace and loggia that opens onto the garden. With over three hectares of land, it surrounds the villa on all sides. The grounds of the villa meet the most modern requirements of the time. There was plenty of room for sports. You could find a tennis court or a swimming pool.
Does all this sound familiar? Just as Josef Volman had placed a representative company headquarters in his villa, so too did Alfred Stiassni, the owner of the textile company, devote the entire ground floor of the villa to public and social events. Here he met with his business partners and made deals with them.
Both Volman's Villa and Villa Stiassni offered each of their residents the perfect apartment setting. The interior was furnished with the finest materials. Sandstone and travertine lined the windows, and marble from Cuba was used in the renovation of each villa.
Not only do the villas have much in common, but also the fates of their owners. Both Josef Volman and Alfred Stiassni had to wait a long time to have children in the house. In the end, however, neither family enjoyed the villas very much. Both the Volmans and the Stiassnis spent nearly 10 years in their beautiful home.
Today, both villas are open to the public after extensive restoration. There are even regular chamber concerts in each of them.
Have we enticed you to visit another iconic house? When you go to Brno, we can personally vouch for your experience at Villa Stiassni.
