A Weekend Tip: Step Inside One of Prague’s Most Remarkable First Republic Villas
If you love First Republic architecture, Czech design, or are simply curious about what the home of an upper-class Prague family looked like in the 1930s, we have a weekend tip for you. Hidden away in Malvazinky is the Winternitz Villa, the last house designed by Adolf Loos to be completed during his lifetime.
From the outside, the villa appears almost understated. A simple light-coloured façade, clean lines and no unnecessary decoration. The most interesting part, however, is hidden inside.
The villa was commissioned in 1932 by Prague lawyer Josef Winternitz for his wife Jenny and their two children. It was designed by Adolf Loos and Karel Lhota, and the entire house was completed within a single year.
The building is a typical example of Loos’s so-called Raumplan. Instead of being divided into conventional floors, its rooms are arranged at different levels according to their function. Although the villa appears to have three storeys, visitors actually move through six different levels.
The spacious living room connects to the galleries, dining room and a smaller salon, while the more intimate rooms are lower and cosier. Every detail has been carefully considered, yet the villa does not feel like a cold museum. It still feels like a real home. Visitors can even try out some of the period armchairs.
A House with a Difficult Past
The Winternitz family lived in the villa for only nine years. Due to Nazi persecution, they were forced to leave their home. Josef Winternitz and his son Petr later died in Auschwitz, while Jenny and their daughter Suzana survived the concentration camps.
A nursery school operated in the villa for several decades afterwards. The descendants of the original owners regained the property in the 1990s and gradually restored it to its original form.
Today, the Winternitz Villa is open to the public and, in addition to guided tours, hosts exhibitions, concerts, lectures and theatre performances. The upper terrace also offers a beautiful view of Prague.
And if a few hours are not enough, it is even possible to stay overnight and experience what it feels like to wake up in one of Prague’s most remarkable First Republic homes. So, the next time you are wondering how to spend a free afternoon, head to Malvazinky. Behind the understated façade, you will find not only an architectural gem, but also the powerful story of a family home.
Practical Information
Where: Winternitz Villa, Na Cihlářce 10, Prague 5
Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday, 12 p.m.–6 p.m.
Getting there: From Anděl metro station, take a bus to the Malvazinky stop.
