Perhaps it is the statues of angels bearing lanterns that first capture your gaze. This is Grabova vila. It stands here in Prague 8, in Libeň. It is located east of the Košířka farmstead.
Grabova vila is more than just a building. It is a testament to a family’s rise, fall, and the many lives a structure can hold. The villa’s history began in the 1890s. It was a home for the Grab family. Hermann Grab Sr. commissioned Josef Blecha to design it. The Grabs were industrialists who came to Prague from Drahelice.
The family significantly boosted Prague’s industry, particularly in Libeň. Moise Grab, Hermann’s father, opened a factory in 1868. By the late 19th century, their factory became the largest of its kind in Austria-Hungary. It specialized in waxed cloths and carpets.
Grabova vila was a hub of culture. Composer Richard Strauss was a guest. He was the father-in-law of Alice Grab. Philosophers Theodor W. Adorno and Max Brod also visited. Hermann Grab Jr., the builder’s grandson, also lived here. He was a writer and pianist.
The good times did not last. The Grab family sold the villa in 1932 during the Great Depression. It then became a boarding school for girls. It was known as Victoria College.
During World War II, the villa served a dark purpose. The Hitler Youth, or Hitlerjugend, occupied it from 1941 to 1945. After the war, it housed law enforcement. Later, it became a children’s home. From 1948 to 1993, it was a secondary healthcare school. Later, some departments of the Prague 8 Municipal District Office were located here.
Grabova vila has undergone changes. In 1928-1929, the Grab family renovated it extensively. They added a second floor and an attic. The building was expanded to the north and given a basement. A tiled roof, dormers, and mansard walls were added. The southern and western sides got sculptures.
Look at the terrace above the north entrance of Grabova vila. It features a balustrade. Two angel statues holding lanterns stand on it. The western facade is the most ornate. A ground-floor terrace runs its length. It has a balustrade adorned with lanterns. A wide staircase and a risalit divide the terrace.
The risalit served as the entrance to a music salon. Two Ionic columns support a balcony on the second floor. Above the columns, on the attic railing, is a decorated coat of arms. Statues act as shield bearers.
After Emanuel Grab’s death, Dr. Hugo Grab became the villa’s owner in 1932. The property was heavily mortgaged. In 1936, Josefina Victoriusová-Mockerová leased the villa. She established an English-style boarding school for girls from wealthy families.
In 1939, the Nazis seized the property. In 1941, a fire damaged parts of the roof and attic. The fire took five and a half hours to extinguish. After repairs, the Hitler Youth used the building.
During the Prague Uprising, fighting damaged the villa. After World War II, the government confiscated the property. In 1945, it became a shelter for children under three. After 1948, the Grab family’s property was confiscated. A nursery pavilion was built in the garden. A two-year nursing school opened in the villa.
Today, Grabova vila houses the Housing, Property, and Environment Department. Its beautiful spaces are also used for official functions. The villa is one of the best-preserved villas from the First Republic. It is occasionally used for film productions. You may have seen it in “Czech Century” or “Chetnicky Humoresky.” Even “Carnival Row” filmed a scene here.
Grabova vila stands as a silent witness. It is a reminder of Prague’s complex history. From a family’s grand residence to its current municipal use, it has seen it all. Take a moment to appreciate its resilience and beauty.