In Ostrava, reconstruction of the heritage-protected Grossmann Villa will begin

Ostrava – This month, reconstruction of the Grossmann Villa, which is a cultural monument, will begin in Ostrava. The renovation, costing nearly 89 million crowns, is expected to be completed in two years. After opening, the villa will serve representative purposes, but it will also host tours. This was stated to reporters by Deputy Mayor Zuzana Bajgarová.

"The construction will be handed over on Tuesday. It is one of those architectural gems of Ostrava, for which the reconstruction has long been awaited. The villa has been marked by several reconstructions, and the effort is to restore the Grossmann Villa to its original form as much as possible,” said Bajgarová. She added that the city insisted that the chosen contractor have experience in restoring cultural monuments.

After the repairs, the villa will have, for example, the original appearance of the facades, and there are plans to restore all valuable architectural elements; for instance, the central staircase that was previously removed will reappear. The renovation of the villa also includes restoration work.

"The renovation aims to return the villa to its original architectural value on one hand, and on the other hand, to bring everyday life back into the villa. After opening, the building will feature five rooms with accommodation options, social spaces, and a tour circuit,” said Bajgarová. The city initially tried to offer the villa to private investors, but this plan did not succeed, and so it ultimately decided to repair the building itself.

The interwar building is one of the rarest villas in Ostrava. It is located on Na Zapadlém Street, not far from the regional office. It was designed by František Grossmann himself as both a family and company headquarters for his construction firm. The villa was built in the art deco style and completed in 1923. The owner and his family lived in the villa for just ten years. Due to the economic crisis and financial problems, he committed suicide in 1933. In the 1960s, the building also served as a school facility, housing a kindergarten and later a school club. Despite the interventions of subsequent owners, many original features have been preserved in the villa, including windows and some doors with original stained glass or parts of it; in some places, the original furniture has also been preserved.