We are always excited to learn how our visitors perceive the villa, what details capture their attention and which aspects of Mr. Volman’s family story resonate with them the most. So, when our enthusiastic visitor Martina approached us with the idea of writing a report about her guided tour experience, including a short interview with the guide, we were absolutely thrilled. Here is her report. Enjoy!
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting a functionalist gem of a villa - Villa Volman. I already heard quite a bit about the villa before visiting, first seeing it in the autumn issue of my fave Konfekt magazine (the whole issue is stunning, highly recommended!). The fashion editorial was beautiful, with the villa the perfect stylish backdrop. As a huge architecture and design fan, I knew I had to see it for myself, especially since it had only recently opened to the public.
And then… a friend and former colleague reached out to me and said she was working at the villa. Sometimes, I think I believe in serendipity—and that day was one of those times. :) I mean, how cool is that?
Visiting the villa from Prague is a breeze—you just take a half-hour train ride to Čelákovice, followed by a 20-minute walk. Easy peasy! (And, of course, you can always drive :).
To be honest (and I will try not to speak in hyperbole haha!) already arriving at the villa with its sprawling park and lovely sculptures, I was in awe. Sidenote: I think visiting Villa Volman in autumn is perfect, since the foliage surrounding the area made the visit even more special. Plus the brick red colouring of the facade in combination with the autumn foliage made for a really beautiful sight.
When visiting the villa, you need to book a guided tour in advance and I was super lucky to join a tour guided by my friend Veronika. Yes I’m biased but I really and truly recommend her tours—they’re engaging, informative, fun and interactive. The tour takes about 70 minutes, but I honestly wish it had lasted longer, that’s how much I enjoyed it.
The history of the villa is really interesting but also quite heartbreaking at points. In my opinion, Josef Volman, who first envisioned the villa, was a bit of a genius as architecturally the concept was groundbreaking (especially for the 1930s period in Czechoslovakia). The (very young) architects took Volman’s concepts and were also inspired by Le Corbusier and created one of the most beautiful and expensive residences of the interwar period. So what’s the heartbreaking part, you ask? The Volman family was forced to leave the house due to a communist takeover in 1948, and after 1990, the house was not used at all and fell into such ruin that the north wing was almost demolished. There’s more details to the whole story, and this is where I’d say BOOK YOUR VISIT TODAY, as the history of the villa is really compelling.
Fast forward to 2024, and the villa has been restored to its former glory. The villa is also a member of the Iconic Houses global network, an international group connecting architecturally significant 20th century houses and studios that are also open to the public. Also, you can now stay at the villa (um yes please! I’m guessing that next time, I might do that :). And yes, some items were never recovered, but I was truly impressed by the details of the renovation and the beauty and functionality of every room. Some of my favorite elements—the bathtubs (pink for Josef Volman, blue for his daughter), his office featuring a brochure from his factory, and the villa’s ship-like design with staircase openings resembling ship cabin windows—may not be the most grand, but they were incredibly memorable and, at times, deeply touching.
I left the tour inspired and invigorated—and yes, even touched by the beauty and the story of the house. A grand building that, despite its hardships, has prevailed and persevered. I’ll definitely be back soon and I hope you will be able to visit the villa, too.
Do you want more? Read a fun interview with our guide Veronika here.
Author: Martina Sulková