German architect Mies van der Rohe's Modernist masterpiece Tugendhat to reopen again

[Story]

BRNO, CZECH REPUBLIC (AP).- It was completed in 1930, a Modernist masterpiece by legendary German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

But Villa Tugendhat's early history was rocked by the turbulence of the 20th Century: The Nazis seized it, then came World War II bombardments that smashed its windows. When the Soviet troops liberated Czechoslovakia, living space became a large stable. It has languished in disrepair ever since.

Now, a two-year renovation that cost $9 million is almost complete. In March, the glass-fronted building that houses a thick, honey-colored onyx wall, floor-to-ceiling windows, winter garden and clean white lines throughout will be open to the public. Czech officials are confident it will become one of the most popular tourism venues in the region.

Rest of story, plus photo
http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=53359

[video=youtube;O-6TMZ1w0vg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-6TMZ1w0vg[/video]

 

[Story]

Chock full of photos and in English

http://www.tugendhat.eu/en/

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

I visited Haus Lange and Haus Esther in Germany not long ago and found them rather boring. Of course they were new and maybe groundbreaking back then but we are already used to building influenced by the modernist.

http://www.kunstmuseenkrefeld.de/e/kunstmuseen/hauslangehausesters/index.html