The repair of Zelenkovy Villa in Kutná Hora will take longer, it is expected to be completed by the end of the year

Kutná Hora - The reconstruction of the functionalist Zelenka villa in Kutná Hora will take longer, with completion expected by the end of the year. The several-month delay was caused by significant moisture in the walls, problems with the roofing structure, and other deficiencies not anticipated in the project. Costs over 30 million crowns are likely to increase by six to seven million crowns, most of which should be covered by grants. The building is to provide facilities for a care service. The city is negotiating with the grant provider about the possibility of delaying the start of operations due to the building's dehumidification, said Mayor Lukáš Seifert (ODS) to ČTK.

Work began last autumn. However, the condition of the subsoil, foundations, and structures under the extensions proved to be worse than expected. The city therefore decided to modify the project and remove the extensions. Workers also uncovered original windows that had been walled up later. Due to significant moisture in the walls, not only drying was necessary, but also the implementation of waterproofing.

"All non-original extensions were poorly founded, poorly constructed, and damaged the original building. Similarly, elements of socialist construction appeared on the roof, which was completely devastated, and someone repaired it more with construction waste," stated the mayor. If it were not an architecturally valuable building, he claimed the only solution would have been to demolish it.

After the completion of the reconstruction, the city plans to build a community garden by the villa, without a grant. It should mainly be used by seniors from the Hlouška and Šipší housing estates.

The former factory owner's villa in Masaryk Street was inhabited from 1939 to 1942 by Leo and Gréta Reiniger. The two-story building in the functionalist style was designed for them by the prominent Czech architect, scenographer, and designer František Zelenka. The Reiniger family, due to their Jewish descent, ended up in a concentration camp from which they did not return. Later, Zelenka's villa housed a nursery or a special school for disabled children. The building underwent several adaptations and extensions.

The villa’s basement served as a technical background with a boiler room, coal storage, laundry, drying room, and caretaker's apartment under the original owners. On the raised ground floor, there was a kitchen, dining room, spacious hall with an adjacent study and winter garden. The house also included rooms for family members, caregivers, servants, and a guest room.