Villa Tugendhat - ARC 308 Scavenger Hunt

Name: Villa Tugendhat Location:   Černá Pole in Brno, Czech Republic Architect: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Lilly Reich (interior design)  Mies van der Rohe Mies van der Rohe's collaborator - Lilly Reich Date of Construction: 1929-1930 Zidlicky, Atelier. “VILLA TUGENDHAT.” Vila Tugendhat. Accessed September 17, 2019. https://www.tugendhat.eu/en/.

The print resources I used during my library session at the Architecture and Planning LIbrary Mies Van Der Rohe: European Works - Rohe and Honey Along with the Barcelona Pavilion, the Haus Tugendhat is characterized by the original black and white photographs that Mies devised before construction (shown below). On his rare visits back to Brno, Mies was known to cause the local craftsmen stress with his excessively particular demands for the building. During the planning process, everything from the construction material, interior design/detailing, and even pipework, was devised in Mies' office in Berlin. When the Villa Tugendhat was completed, the total cost of the project was 4 million Czech Crowns , surpassing the cost of 8 luxurious apartments at the time. This was due in part to the rich materials utilized inside the house, including Algerian Onyx, Swedish linen, and Indonesian mahogany.  An example of Mies' black and white sketches when drafting the Haus Tugen

The Villa Tugendhat is not only impressive to aspiring architects fascinated with its trailblazing properties, but also to casual onlookers on the street. Built on a slight incline, this modern masterpiece was originally built in 1930 with reinforced concrete and steel rails, along with (at that time) rare floor-to-ceiling windows. In 1993, the Villa Tugendhat Fund and Friends of Tugendhat were created to preserve and return the house to its original look and glory, opening the villa up to the public.  A picture from the 1900's documenting the previous state of Villa Tugendhat A drone shot of the exterior of the house (notice the greenery and straight lines) A great view of the shimmering glass as well as one of the accent pillars throughout the Haus A side view of the Villa

Click into the pictures for HQ and Full-Size photos! Basement Floor and Ground Floor General Plan + 3 Elevations Detailed Basement Plan Detailed Ground Floor Plan

Fritz Tugendhat and his wife, Greta (the original users of the Villa) When the Villa Tugendhat was first constructed, it was built in a wealthy neighborhood and meant to be used as a living space for Fritz Tugendhat and his wife, Greta Tugendhat. Over the years, this icon of modern architecture has evolved into a tourist attraction in the Czech Republic, for it is the only local example included in UNESCO's list of World Cultural Heritage sites.  In 2019, the Villa Tugendhat is open for the public from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, with the popular interior tour tickets almost sold out for the rest of the year. The primary usage of this building is to allow tourists to witness one of the earliest examples of modern architecture, but the secondary usage of the Villa Tugendhat is to serve as a reminder that modern style originated more than 80 years ago (and how it continues to evolve). In addition, the house is used for public movie screenings, live music concert

In any good example of architecture, externalities are only half the story. The other half comes from what lies inside the walls of the structure. With its interior design and decoration - the Villa Tugendhat is no different. Featuring beautiful glass construction and inventive wall art, this house is a modernist's biggest dream. Mies van der Rohe's philosophy for the Villa Tugendhat was "less is more," and that message clearly resonates throughout the multipurpose furniture, wall decor, and "floating" furniture.  An expansive nature outlook from the comfort of the dining room/sitting area A minimalist living room with chairs, glass table, and ottoman (note the onyx wall to the right side) A huge round conference table with floor-to-ceiling views of the outdoor garden (note the polished travertine floors)