The South Bohemian Region will renovate the terrace and fountain of the Hardtmuth Villa

České Budějovice – The South Bohemian Region will repair the terrace and fountain at the location of the protected cultural monument, the Hardtmuth Villa in Česk Budějovice. The reconstruction costs are approximately three million crowns. The region, which owns the villa, wants to allow the public access to the terrace through modernization. This was stated by Pavel Klíma (TOP 09), the deputy governor of South Bohemia.

The villa has housed a children's and youth center for several years. "It is important that the beautiful terrace space cannot be used, neither for the public nor for the children. The terrace is cordoned off because it is dangerous for any use," Klíma said.

He added that the reconstruction of the cultural monument is not easy in terms of the required administration. The region originally wanted to modernize the villa according to proposals from teachers and students of the art and industrial secondary school in Česk Krumlov. "But it must be realized by an architect with the appropriate authorization. Therefore, we have approached experts, restorers, and the result is that we will also be reconstructing the fountain with the technological background so that it is not only decorative but also functional," he stated.

The Hardtmuth Villa was built in 1911 by the company of Johann Stepan. The couple Anna and Franz Hardtmuth had it constructed in close proximity to their company Koh-i-noor's pencil factory and lived in it until the turn of the 1940s and 1950s. The children's and youth center has been located in the villa since 1979.