Stiassni Villa

A magnificent functionalist villa with a three-hectare garden

Designed by the architect Ernst Wiesner for the family of Alfred Stiassni, a Jewish textile manufacturer, this villa ranks among the most significant residential buildings built in the interwar period.

Wiesner made good use of the steep profile of the building plot. The ground floor is connected with the garden through an enclosed balcony and natural patios located in front of the southern and eastern facades. The family lived in the villa a mere nine years before fleeing to London in 1938 to escape Nazi persecution. The family later settled in Hollywood, California.

After World War II, during which it was a residence of the Gestapo, the villa served as a venue for major historic events, used by the government for special occasions. Famous guests include Czech president Edvard Beneš, Indonesian president Sukarno, Egyptian president Nasser, and Cuban president Fidel Castro.

Following extensive renovations, it was reopened to the public in 2014. Today, the building houses Metodické centrum moderní architektury (the National Heritage Institute), a methodology centre for research and the presentation of functionalist architecture in Brno, the Czech Republic, and abroad.