Let Yourself be Carried Away by the Atmosphere of a First (2. strana)
Let Yourself be Carried Away by the Atmosphere of a First Republic Villa
www.posiv.cz ǀ 49
ARCHITECTURE
What was the biggest challenge –
designing the programme, securing
funding, attracting visitors,
or something else?
Our main task was to create the villa’s
content. Primarily, we had to design
a guided tour that interprets the history of
the house and its owners, with a particular
focus on the life of František Grossmann.
Thanks to the extensive media coverage of
the renovation and the interest of curious
followers, we certainly couldn‘t complain
about visitor numbers in the first few
months.
At the same time, we dealt with many
typical „teething“ processes – from
implementing sales software, designing
graphics, developing a multilingual
website, setting up technical inspection
procedures, adding garden furniture, and
installing decorative elements such as
trellises, flower pots, etc.
How did you find the balance
between preserving the villa
as a historical landmark and
transforming it into
a vibrant cultural space?
From the very beginning, we knew we
wanted to approach the villa with respect
and preserve as many original elements
as possible. This is one of the reasons why
we wear fabric shoe covers during tours to
protect the period parquet floors. I believe
we have found the right balance between
heritage conservation and cultural use of
the space.
After all, František Grossmann himself
led a rich social life and had a deep
appreciation for art and culture. Hosting
concerts, lectures, workshops, and
exhibitions is, in a way, a continuation of
his life. For instance, the original grand
music salon remains a musical venue even
after a hundred years, offering visitors the
unique experience of an intimate concert
in a historic setting – and the acoustics are
excellent.
How has your vision for the villa’s
operation evolved since its opening? Was
there anything that surprised you?
The initial vision has remained consistent
and hasn’t changed significantly. That said,
we are still working on it, and the original
concept of a narrative tour with digital
elements is not yet fully complete. Some
spaces are still awaiting furniture, and
everything remains in a dynamic process
of development. We have learned that
everything takes time.
Fortunately, we have plenty of ideas for
how to make the most of the villa’s spaces.
For example, the original kitchen area now
serves as a well-equipped gastronomic
facility, and we have several ideas in mind
on how to utilise it to enhance the visitor
experience.
Do you have a vision for the future
direction of the villa’s operations?
We carefully evaluate visitor feedback
and have noticed a growing interest in
theatrical tours, concerts, and picnics. We
are actively responding to this demand.
We would like to expand our offering
of in-house staged tours and also adapt
some famous novels or plays, setting
them within the villa’s environment.
There is no shortage of programme ideas,
and new ones emerge every week. Our
main challenge is selecting what we can
realistically manage and execute at this
stage.
Currently, we are focusing on completing
the guided tour, which includes finalising
the furnished interiors, curating the
collection of exhibits, and integrating
digital elements. Additionally, we are
preparing high-quality printed materials to
complement the experience. In the future,
we would love to launch our own video
podcast as well.
What can visitors currently admire
at Grossmann Villa? Are there any
new features or highlights? Which
programmes are the most popular?
In addition to the built-in furniture, we
have furnished the villa with carpets and
the first exhibits. For example, in the music
salon, we have a piano and a cabinet
gramophone. Throughout the villa, framed
photographs of the interiors from the
1920s are displayed, allowing visitors to
compare the original and current state of
the rooms.
During the tours, visitors learn about the
story of František Grossmann and his
family, partly through family photographs.
For those interested in the villa’s
restoration, we have preserved fragments
of the original linoleum and wallpaper,
offering a tangible link to its past.
Is it possible to rent the villa’s spaces
for private events? If so, what types of
events can be hosted here?
Yes, it is possible to rent the garden and the
ground-floor social areas, which include
our most spacious and representative
rooms. We have already hosted press
conferences, award ceremonies,
competition announcements, and various
cultural events, such as a PechaKucha
Night.
However, the villa is still waiting to host its
first wedding.
Thank you for the interview.
I believe we have found the
right balance between heritage
conservaon and cultural use
of the space.
We would like to expand our
oering of in-house staged
tours and also adapt some
famous novels or plays.