The reconstruction of Čapek's villa in Prague 10 will begin later this year

Prague - By the end of the year, Prague 10 will begin the long-prepared reconstruction of part of the Vinohrady double villa where the writer Karel Čapek lived. This was announced by the first deputy mayor of the district, Tomáš Pek (TOP 09). After the reconstruction, the villa will house a museum focused on Čapek's life, which is expected to open at the beginning of 2027. The reconstruction is estimated to cost the municipality around 35.5 million crowns excluding VAT, based on the results of the tender.

"Work on the reconstruction of Karel Čapek's villa should start in December 2025, and the deadline for the construction is 16 months from the handover of the construction site," said the deputy mayor. He added that the planned museum will focus on presenting the authentic life of the famous writer. "The villa will feature an exhibition depicting the everyday life of Karel and Olga Čapkovi - the interiors are intended to feel as if their original inhabitants had just stepped out for a moment," he explained.

The Čapek brothers had the double house built in Vinohrady between 1923 and 1924 according to the design of architect Ladislav Machoň. Prague 10 purchased half of the double house, where Karel Čapek lived, in 2013 for 43.9 million crowns from the great-nephew of the writer's wife, Olga Scheinpflugová. In the other half of the building lived the writer's brother, Josef, whose descendants still own it.

Since the acquisition of half of the house, representatives of different administrations of the tenth district have been discussing the reconstruction of the villa. So far, a structural-historical and restoration survey has taken place, along with the inventory and storage of the original furnishings along with Čapek's extensive archive of documents. Occasionally, the municipality, in cooperation with cultural institutions, has organized tours and lectures there.