The project for the reconstruction of the Grossmann villa in Ostrava will be this year

Ostrava - The listed and generally inaccessible Grossmann Villa from 1923 on Na Zapadlém street near the regional office in Ostrava is to be transformed by the city into a representative site. The city is now preparing project documentation for the reconstruction, which could be completed by the end of this year, said Mayor Tomáš Macura (ANO) to ČTK.

According to him, the city would use the facility for ceremonial occasions, and it would also serve partially for accommodation. "There should be meeting spaces that we expect could be used both by the city council and the regional office, as well as other institutions in the city. The upper floor should have three or four rooms for guest accommodation," Macura stated.

The family residence of Ostrava architect František Grossmann has previously been unsuccessfully attempted to be sold by the city. They first considered reconstruction two years ago, but preparing the project is demanding.

"We are trying to negotiate with the owner of the other half of the building, which is no longer protected as a historical monument, but is part of the whole complex. We believe it would be worthwhile to attempt to reconstruct it as a whole," Macura said. The part of the complex owned by the city is listed, and the preparation there is complicated due to the need for close cooperation with heritage conservators.

"You have to pay attention to every little detail, including how, for example, the railing on the stairs or the window handles look," Macura stated. The costs for renovation have not yet been estimated, and the mayor expects them to range between 50 to 100 million crowns.

"We would like to finish the design this year. After that, we need to discuss whether we will share the costs with the regional leadership because we want to use it together. The investment will not be small. We aim to create a sort of parallel here in Ostrava to (Brno's) Villa Tugendhat," said Macura.

According to him, the city lacks a similar representative residence, but it was also difficult to find another use for the villa. It was last used as a kindergarten and after-school care. "The mayor and the governor often have various visits that we can host and accommodate there. I have been to Brno several times, and there is a difference whether one has a meeting at the town hall or in Villa Tugendhat," believes the mayor. He noted that the villa would also be opened to the public on various occasions. Currently, it is generally inaccessible, but it will open to visitors this Saturday as part of the local history festival Pestré vrstvy.