Hože – Tugendhat – Löw-Beer – Discussion and Tour

Although the construction work is not yet completely finished, guests will have a unique opportunity to take a look inside the so-called Arnold Villa. Jiří Mihola, the manager of the house’s restoration, will guide them through the house, which was eventually owned by Cecílie Hože, Greta Tugendhat’s aunt. Afterwards, historian Táňa Klementová will talk about the heritage of the trio of prominent Brno families Hože, Tugendhat and Löw-Beer with conservator-restorer and art historian Ivo Hammer, husband of Daniela Hammer-Tugendhat.

The tour will be conducted in Czech and the discussion will take place in English without translation into Czech. Entrance is possible only with reservation.
Villa colonies were an attractive alternative to tenement houses or city palaces for the wealthier classes. They were located far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the inner city, but still within walking distance. The first of these in Brno – and probably the first in Central Europe – began to be built in the 1860s on the slopes of Černé Pole. Josef Arnold also built a house for his own family (and three other villas) here.

Josef Arnold was one of the key figures of 19th century Brno architecture. He realized a number of important public and private buildings (e.g. Johann Bergl’s palace – the so-called Muzejka on Lidická Street, the gymnasium under Špilberk). He was also active in public life: he was a member of the Brno municipal council and actively participated in social life.

After the Arnold family, the villa was owned by several other owners, until in 1909 it was bought by Cecílie Hože, née Löw-Beer, Greta Tugendhat’s aunt. Cecílie and her husband, Dr. Kornelius Hože, a prominent Brno lawyer and co-owner of one of the largest cement works in Czechoslovakia, renovated the villa in the Art Deco style with Art Nouveau elements. In 1939 the villa was seized by the Gestapo and the family members were soon deported to concentration camps. None of them survived the war.

After 1945 the villa was nationalised. Since the 1950s it has been used as a nursery. In 2010 it was declared a cultural monument. After the renovation is completed, the Arnold Villa will become a Dialogue Centre.

The co-organisers of the evening are the Brno City Museum and the Arnold Villa.