Villa Tugendhat is a prime example of modernist architecture designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. When completed in 1930, Villa Tugendhat was the first private house built with an iron construction. Its utility and technical equipment were innovative for the time. The materials used were of the highest quality and Mies’s attention to detail was meticulous. No wonder that in 2001, Villa Tugendhat was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its outstanding universal value as a masterpiece of modern architecture.
How to visit Villa Tugendhat?
Villa Tugendhat is open to the public only by participating in guided tours. The tours sell out quickly so book well in advance – especially if visiting Brno in the summer months.
I visited Villa Tugendhat on my train trip from Finland to Istanbul and back. It was late September, and a couple of visitors had to be turned away from the gates as the tour was sold out.
There are several tour options from a 90-minute extended tour (c. 18€) to a 40-minute outside tour (c. 8€). The outdoor area can be visited independently, too. I highly recommend participating in a tour as the guides are true connoisseurs of every feature of the building and its history.
In 2023, a virtual tour was created allowing people from around the world to see inside the Villa – but the best thing is to visit the real thing, and admire its architectural brilliance while learning about its fascinating history as a symbol of modernist innovation.
A peek into the villa’s features
The villa’s layout was planned to maximise natural light and provide seamless integration between indoor and outdoor spaces.
The free-standing three-storey Villa is situated on a sloped terrain just outside Brno’s Old Town. The basement contains the utility facilities. The second storey is the ground floor, consisting of the main living and social areas. Here are also located the conservatory and the terrace as well as the kitchen with facilities and the servants’ rooms. The third storey, the first floor, has the main entrance from the street. There is an impressive entrance hall and living spaces for the Tugendhat family and nanny.
On this floor, you can see one of the most striking features of Villa Tugendhat: the iconic onyx wall from the Moroccan Atlas Mountains.
Typically Mies van der Rohe is solely mentioned as Villa Tugendhat’s designer, but credit also belongs to his long-term collaborator Lilly Reich.
A little history of Villa Tugendhat
The villa was commissioned by Fritz and Greta Tugendhat, a wealthy couple from Brno, and the construction took place between 1929 and 1930.
When WWII broke out, the Tugendhat’s left the Villa which eventually was taken over but the Gestapo. In 1942, the Villa became the property of Nazi Germany, and it suffered great damage.
In 1950, a rehabilitation centre for children with spine defects was established here. Finally, in the early 1960s, Villa Tugendhat started to get more recognition. However, the political turmoils of the late 60s prevented concrete renovation projects.
In 1980, the City of Brno got hold of the property from the state and an overall renovation started the next year. Yet the building stayed closed to the public for years to come. But this changed after a thorough renovation was completed between 2010 and 2012: Villa Tugendhat opened its massive doors revealing elegant and airy living spaces behind it.
