Corrected Bílek's villa will soon reveal its secrets

Prague - The Bílek Villa in Prague's Hradčany, which was built 100 years ago, will soon unveil its secrets to the first visitors. After a comprehensive renovation, it will open on September 24. František Bílek (1872 to 1941) was more a sculptor and graphic artist than an architect; the villa reflects his rich imagination, is original, full of symbols and references to natural and religious themes, said Petr Wittlich, the art historian and author of the new exhibition, to journalists during a tour of the villa today. Since the 1960s, the villa has belonged to the city of Prague and has been managed by the Gallery of the Capital City of Prague.
    Renovation work on the villa began in 2008. Essentially everything has been restored, including the floors. Restoration work has also been carried out, new electrical installations and air conditioning have been done, and the garden has been modified. In the basement, there will be a Bílek center designated for researchers, while the ground floor and upper levels will display Bílek's works - sculptures, plastic arts, reliefs, graphics, models, and sketches. At the very top, there is a space for lectures and exhibitions. The reconstruction cost the Gallery of the Capital City of Prague nearly 40 million crowns, said gallery curator Karel Srp.
    The Bílek Villa is an unmistakable building on the tram route from Malostranská to Prague Castle. It is located on the right side of the tram when approaching the Summer Palace of Queen Anne. The building is covered with red bricks and surrounded by a garden. "The combination of bare brick and naturally sculpted stone creates a very original architecture that belongs to the prominent monuments of Prague," said Wittlich.
    The building has a segmented curvature - according to some interpretations, its floor plan resembles a sickle reaping sheaves of rye (the columns of the building). "Bílek envisioned this villa as a field of rye, whose harvest is intended for the benefit of all," said Wittlich. An interesting fact is also the flat roof, which was not common in houses at the time.
    The villa appears fairytale-like and mysterious from the outside, and this impression is confirmed for the viewer inside. The door portals are made of stone and reminiscent of Gothic architecture. The rooms with high ceilings are decorated with various small windows, the purpose of which is not apparent. They connect, for example, two rooms, or sometimes a tiny window almost at the ceiling opens up space to rooms one floor higher. The corners of the lower room are not right-angled but rounded. The wooden furniture is adorned with animals, as well as the Virgin Mary and quotes from the Bible.
    The studio is unmistakable, being the largest and brightest room in the entire villa. Two enormous doors located opposite each other lead from the studio to the garden. They facilitated the transfer of large pieces of material for sculpting and woodworking, as well as the removal of completed works. The walls of the studio are clad in natural stone, and even the studio features mysterious windows and balconies.
    In collaboration with the Gallery of the Capital City of Prague and Arbor vitae publishing house, a publication titled "František Bílek and his Prague Studio" will be released in September, which will be the introductory work of a new Bílek book series. It has been graphically designed by Robert V. Novák, with texts contributed by Petr Wittlich, Jindřich Vybíral, Zdeněk Lukeš, Martin Krummholz, and Hana Larvová.