Villa Tugendhat, Brno (must see)

Villa Tugendhat, located in Brno, is a landmark of modern architecture and an iconic example of early 20th-century functionalist design. Designed by the renowned German architects Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich, the villa was constructed between 1928 and 1930 for Fritz Tugendhat and his wife Greta, members of the affluent and influential Jewish Czech Tugendhat family.

This three-story villa, built on a southwest-facing slope, is a pioneering modernist example featuring innovative use of reinforced concrete, industrial materials, and a revolutionary iron framework. This design allowed for a spacious, open interior without supporting walls, embodying Mies van der Rohe's "less is more" principle. The villa's open floor plan, with large glass walls connecting the interior to the landscape, was groundbreaking. The second floor, the main living area, includes social spaces, a conservatory, a terrace, and a kitchen, while the third floor houses the entrance, family bedrooms, and another terrace. The lower level contains service areas, including advanced air-conditioning and a retractable glass façade.

One of the villa's most striking features is the use of luxurious, naturally patterned materials, such as a brown-gold onyx wall sourced from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. This onyx wall is partially translucent, changing appearance with the angle of the evening sun, and serves as a centerpiece in the main living area. Mies van der Rohe, in collaboration with Lilly Reich, also designed all the furnishings for the villa, including the iconic Tugendhat and Brno chairs, which remain in production today.

The Villa Tugendhat was a technological marvel for its time, with amenities such as an air-conditioning system, large open spaces, and storage rooms like the Mottenkammer, a dedicated moth-resistant room for storing fur coats. The construction methods and the use of high-quality materials resulted in a very high cost, making the villa unique in its scale and minimalist design.

In recognition of its architectural significance, Villa Tugendhat was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001, cementing its status as a masterpiece of modern architecture and a symbol of the innovative spirit of the early 20th century.