Architecture Day: Koryčany - To the Thonet Villa in Koryčany

A guided tour of the Art Nouveau villa of Alfred Thonet, designed by the Fellner and Helmer studio, led by art historian Petra Svobodová.

Michael Thonet, founder of the famous furniture company, chose Koryčany in 1856 as the location for his first factory outside Vienna. Three years later, the iconic chair no. 14, known as the "Thonetka", was manufactured there. The villa was built in 1896 by Michael's grandson - it stands in close proximity to the factory complex and witnessed the turbulent history of both the company and the town itself.

After nationalization, the villa served many purposes, from a school facility to a grocery store. In 2023 it was declared a cultural monument; today it stands neglected in an overgrown garden near the former factory. The building is owned by the town, which is preparing its reconstruction.

Guide: Petra Svobodová, curator of the Thonet Villa in Koryčany and art historian