The Unique Loos Interior is Still Kept Alive Thanks to the Care of the Family

The Brummel House in Husova Street, one of the eight Pilsen interiors designed by the world-renowned architect Adolf Loos, celebrates ten years since it was opened to the public. Contrary to other Loos’ projects in the city, this house is exceptional not only for its well-preserved condition and authentic furniture, but also for the fact that it is owned and lovingly maintained by the original family – the Brummels. They have been gradually repairing it, caring for it and they regularly open it to visitors in cooperation with the Pilsen – TOURISM organisation.

The Brummel House from 1929 stands out among the Pilsen interiors in many ways. It is also unique because, unlike the others, it belongs to private owners. They not only make it accessible to the public, but also repair it and return it to its original state at their own expense with help from the city of Pilsen and other institutions. In 1991, the nephew of the original owners Michal Brummel took over the house, and he has been working to save the house continuously since then.

After the handover in the early 90s, the house was in a disastrous state. Michal Brummel devoted himself to the rescue of the object in the first ten years. When the house got to a civilized state, he decided to, even by means of commercial rentals, return the whole interior of the first floor to its original state. What helped him was not only the period plans and photographs, but also his own memories.

The crucial year was 2015 when the family opened the Loos interior to the public within the Adolf Loos Pilsen project. Owing to great interest, originally planned occasional tours have been expanded into a regular schedule “We expected a few enthusiasts at first, but the interest of the public caught us off guard –  there was a waiting list for the tours. It was then that the decision to open the house as a standard museum was made. Thanks to the cooperation with Pilsen – TOURISM, we were able to offer regular guided tours, share marketing and actively participate in the wider story of Loos’ works in Pilsen,” adds Gabriela Brummelová, Michal’s daughter-in-law, who currently takes care of the house with her husband Martin.

Besides the genius of Adolf Loos, the place is exceptional for its story. The house survived bombing of Škoda Works in 1945, as well as the entire communist era and construction of the neighbouring bus station. Jana and Jan Brummels survived the war and came back from a concentration camp on the same day, without knowing about each other. A secret is also hidden in the story of Nazi Straub, who handed over the house in the same condition in which he took it over after the war.

It is the history of the house and the way it is conveyed to visitors which makes the tour a unique experience. “Even though it may not make sense economically in many aspects and we can replace a live guide with modern technologies, I consider it to be absolutely essential. We believe that a live guide and human contact make a visit an unforgettable experience,” explains Gabriela Brummel.

The family has also other plans – in the future, they would like to use the second floor or the basement, which have been inaccessible so far. “Loos’ style is timeless. I could myself live in such an apartment even today – nothing looks outdated. If the development of the house continues and its value presented to more people, I will be truly glad.”

Over the past ten years, thousands of architecture and history lovers have visited the house. It is possible to attend guided tours in the main tourist season every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Three tour routes under the Adolf Loos Pilsen brand are provided by the Pilsen – TOURISM organisation. Tickets and current dates are available on the website www.adolfloosplzen.cz/en/.