Arthur Corazza's villa

The architect and builder Arthur Corazza gained a good reputation in Jihlava at the beginning of the 20th century thanks to several large commissions, especially the design of Edmund Hoss's tenement house (Vrchlického 27, 1909), Richard Wiessenstein's factory with a house (Srázná 17, 1909–1910), the Elite cinema – the first cinema in Jihlava (which used to stand on Štefánikovo Square), and the savings bank on the upper part of Masarykovo Square. Perhaps this is why he also decided to build his own family and company residence. The design of this large building, including the actual construction, was provided by Corazza himself. In 1911, he chose a corner plot in the western suburbs. The entrance frontage of the residential section with a balustrade L-shaped staircase was situated on Jiráskova Street, followed by the rear facilities section with a workshop and warehouse extending to the level of what is now 17. listopadu Street. Here, a smaller courtyard with arcades adjoined the three sections. The basement was reserved for warehouses, workshops, and a stable, while the first and second floors were used for residential purposes by Arthur Corazza, his wife, Rosa, and their two sons. The existing two cellar spaces under the villa were not shown on the plans.

The massive mansard roof, the distinctive stone foundation wall, and the plastered part of the façade with windows and carved wooden shutters and their compact form completed the classical appearance of an Anglo-Saxon country house. The building corresponded to the prevailing taste of the Czech Germans. Typical of Corazza, he included arched roof dormers, illuminating the large loft, and segmentally convex avant-corps on the entrance frontage, topped with bell-shaped canopies.

Corazza only used the farmhouse and villa for a few years. The family sold the property to the manufacturer Wilhelm Budischowski in 1918 and returned to their native North Bohemia. In 1933, the new owners, Paul and Zdena Kalousek, had the farmhouse divided into several dwelling units according to a plan by the Jihlava builder Emanuel Lang. The house is still used for private housing, including the loft conversions, while a smaller part is used for commercial purposes. The original stone brick enclosure wall has been preserved, as well as a pair of marble cherubs at the main entrance with a balustrade railing.

JL