Villa Engelsmann

In 1932, a private villa was constructed on Hlinky Street, offering a stark contrast to the modern architecture of the exhibition grounds.

Between 1930 and 1931, the well-known Brno industrialist Felix Engelsmann commissioned the construction of an impressive villa in a rather conservative style. Despite the fact that a modern functionalist exhibition complex had been built on the opposite side of the street three years earlier, part of Brno's business elite still favoured historicist architecture. The villa was designed by an unknown architect, likely German or Austrian. However, Engelsmann and his wife only lived in the villa for nine years, as they were forced to flee Czechoslovakia the day before the Nazi occupation due to their Jewish heritage.

The villa, which evokes the impression of an Empire-style chateau with a grand facade, was built in an L-shape. The street-facing facade is divided into three sections. The central section, which is seven window bays wide, stands out with its proportions and mansard roof. The two symmetrical side sections, each with three window bays, are covered by gable roofs. Based on the preserved architectural plans, the interior of the villa can be divided into three main functional areas. The main entrance is located in the central part of the building, leading to a spacious vestibule. The original wooden parquet floors, built-in wardrobes, and the internal mechanism for controlling the exterior shutters are preserved throughout the rooms.

During the Second World War, the villa was confiscated by the Gestapo and used by Nazi officers. After the war, the Czechoslovak state nationalised the building, and it housed the administration of the First Brno Engineering Works for many decades. The villa remains one of the largest private residential buildings in Brno. The property is currently privately owned.