Letohrádek Kinských (The Kinsky Summerhouse), čp. 98, Holečkova 2, Smíchov, Prague 5

Address:

The Kinsky Summerhouse (villa), čp. 98
Holečkova 2
Smíchov
Prague 5

 

Owner:

Czech Republic

 

Description of building:

The building is an immovable cultural site, recorded in the Central register of cultural sites under R.č.Ú.s. 1-1389/1 and is in the heritage site zone Smíchov, declared by HMP decree no. 10/1993 Coll., on declaration of part of the territory of the capital city Prague as a heritage site zone and on determination of conditions for its protection.

 

The Kinsky Summerhouse (Villa) is part of the grounds of the cultural site ‘Vila Kinských’. The extensive park forms a natural environment, in which is incorporated architecture of freely standing buildings and plastic art. The empire aristocratic summerhouse Kinských was built in 1827–1831 by the Viennese architect J. Koch and is one of the most significant heritage sites of this stylistic period in Prague. Since 1905 there has been a display of the ethnographic department of the National museum here, which after a break of several years is returning to the newly renovated areas. The premises are also called premises of the vila Kinských and are a “an outstanding example of a suburban aristocratic summerhouse encompassed by an extensive park, later transformed into public gardens. They are unique premises, in which the architecture is continuously linked to the natural garden design of a park. The premises are is located on the western slope of the hill Petřín by a band of medieval and Baroque fortifications of Malá Strana. As well as the summerhouse building itself, it encompasses a number of other buildings and light plastic art, which are part of the design of the garden.” (quoted from Immovable cultural sites of the capital city Prague, operational register, volume II, Prague institution of government heritage site care and protection of nature, Prague 1990)

 

In 2003 designs for the following restoration and renovating works were approved:

 

1.    restoration of internal facades and stone elements

2.    restoration repair of external facades including stone elements

3.    restoration of hanging chandeliers and wall-mounted chandeliers

4.    specialist repair of all joiner’s elements (windows, doors) and floors

5.    renovation of the park surrounding the summerhouse.

 

Success from the viewpoint of heritage site care:
The complete renovation of the building was carried out under the strict supervision of MHMP-OPP. The high-quality replicas of unpreserved railing of the main staircase can be considered as especially successful. During production, several preserved pillars and photographic records were used. Historical hanging chandeliers and wall-mounted lamps were restored in a very professional manner. Precise replicas of external wings of wooden windows were made and all metal work was completed: the engineering of the coloured facade came from prior restorer research. From a craftsmanship viewpoint it is necessary to also point out the successful restoration of parquet floor.