A Dientzenhofer Museum at Villa Amerika in Prague?

A call for the establishment of a Dientzenhofer Museum at Villa Amerika in Prague

Prague City Council and the National Museum have agreed to terminate the free loan of Villa Amerika, which currently houses the Antonín Dvořák Museum. At the same time, it has been decided that the Property Department of Prague City Council, in cooperation with the Culture Department, will seek a new use for the building, with priority to be given to cultural, social and tourist functions.

In this context, we would like to recall the decision of the City Council of the Royal Capital City of Prague of 13 November 1908, adopted on the basis of a proposal by City Councillor F. Hodek, concerning the establishment of the Dientzenhofer Museum in the building known as Villa Amerika. All artefacts relating to the Dientzenhofer architectural legacy, such as plans, models, photographs, etc., were to be housed in this building. The decision defined the purpose of this historic building.

We would therefore like to propose that, in this context, Prague return to the more than 120-year-old decision of the City Council of the Royal City of Prague regarding the establishment of the Dientzenhofer Museum.

The Dientzenhofer family, particularly Kryštof and his son Kilián Ignác, played a fundamental role in shaping the Baroque character of Prague. It is therefore surprising that, even more than 270 years after the death of Kilián Ignác Dientzenhofer, the capital city still lacks a permanent institution that would systematically commemorate the life, work and extraordinary contribution of this family of architects, as is, for example, presented on the VIA Dientzenhofer portal.

One need only mention a few of Prague’s buildings that are now an integral part of the capital’s image both at home and abroad: St Nicholas’ Church in Malá Strana, St Nicholas’ Church on Old Town Square, Břevnov Abbey, the Invalidovna in Karlín, the Church of St John of Nepomuk at Skalka, the Portheimka summer residence, the Loreto, the Church of St John of Nepomuk at Hradčany, the Church of St Thomas in Malá Strana, the Sylva-Taroucca Palace, the Church of St Mary Magdalene on Karmelitská Street and a host of other significant monuments.

Furthermore, Villa Amerika has an exceptionally close connection to the Dientzenhofer legacy. It was here that Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer began his independent career as an architect, when, between 1717 and 1720, he designed and built a High Baroque summer residence in the French style for Count Jan Václav Michna of Vacínov.

Although the decision of the City Council of the Royal Capital City of Prague was adopted, it was never implemented.

With all due respect to the legacy of Antonín Dvořák, whose significance for Czech culture is indisputable, it must be noted that the composer had no historical or creative connection with Villa Amerika. The current situation therefore presents a unique opportunity to restore the building to its originally intended purpose and, at the same time, to settle a debt dating back more than a century to one of the most significant families of architects, who gave Prague its unmistakable Baroque character.

We are convinced that the establishment of the Dientzenhofer Museum at Villa Amerika would not only fulfil the historic decision of the Prague City Council from 1908, but would also enrich the capital’s cultural offering with an institution of European significance, one that would fittingly commemorate the legacy of the architects whose work remains one of the most valuable parts of Prague’s cultural heritage to this day.

We trust that the City of Prague will seize this extraordinary opportunity and initiate a professional discussion on the establishment of the Dientzenhofer Museum at Villa Amerika. Such a step would not only settle a debt of more than a century owed to one of the most significant architectural families in Czech history, but would also enrich the cultural life of the metropolis with an institution that is still noticeably lacking in the European context.

We would like to thank the City of Prague’s leadership for considering this proposal.

VIA Dientzenhofer Portal
Email: info@monumentis.cz
Tel.: 734 780 928
URL: https://www.dientzenhofers.cz/