Volunteers worked today on the restoration of the garden at Villa Wittal in Brno

Brno – About 20 people came today to help restore the garden of the Wittal villa in Brno's Pisárky. For four hours, until their activity was interrupted by rain, they were cutting down invasive trees and removing unwanted vegetation. Michal Doležel, who has a long-standing interest in the history of Brno in the first half of the last century and is also a regional councilor for the coalition Spolu, told ČTK this. The organizers of the volunteer event and other activities at the villa are the Center for Jewish Culture Štetl, which is set to be based in the villa after its reconstruction, and the Museum of the City of Brno, which manages the building.

"We accomplished a lot; we managed to create new sightlines to the surroundings and also uncovered the original arched walkway intended for climbing plants," noted Doležel. Another volunteer event is likely to be organized in the fall.

Today's event was part of the international initiative International House Museum Days. The work of the adults was accompanied by creative workshops for children organized by the Štetl center.

The villa, designed by architect Heinrich Blum in 1932 for the Jewish family Wittal, is designed according to the principles of functionalism with elements of organic design. The family did not inhabit the house for long; after the Nazi occupation, the building was confiscated and used by the Gestapo. After the war, the textile company of the Wittal brothers, along with the villa, was confiscated by the communists, and the building served the city as a representative space. Later it was converted into apartments and served as housing for several families.

In November 2024, the villa was taken over by the Museum of the City of Brno, which is now preparing its reconstruction. It is expected that the costs will be between 60 and 80 million crowns.