Josef Hoffmann House

The Josef Hoffmann House stands on the main square of Brtnice in the Vysočina region, an unassuming townhouse that in 1870 became the birthplace of one of the leading architects and designers of the Vienna Secession. Today the same building houses a museum dedicated to his life and work, run jointly by the Moravian Gallery in Brno and the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) in Vienna.

Why does Brtnice matter to Hoffmann's story?

Josef Hoffmann was born in this house, and despite building his career in Vienna — where he helped found the Vienna Secession and the Wiener Werkstätte — he kept returning to his hometown throughout his life, right up until the end of the Second World War. After his parents died in 1907, he redesigned the family house himself, turning it into a summer residence for himself and his sisters. He combined the surviving late-Biedermeier furnishings with wooden fittings and furniture of his own design, produced in the spirit of the Wiener Werkstätte.

What is there to see inside?

The building's history reaches back further than its Baroque facade suggests. The foundations of the northern part date to around 1500, and the Late Gothic core is still visible in the thick walls and the barrel-vaulted cellar. A fire in 1760 led to the two original structures being joined into the single Baroque townhouse recognizable on the square today.

The postwar decades were not kind to the house. It was confiscated by the state in 1945, and Hoffmann never set foot in Brtnice again. The building passed to the local Communist Party branch, fell into disrepair, and its furnishings were lost. Only after 1989 did the town regain ownership and begin restoration: work based on a 1995–1997 project was completed in 2003–2004, drawing on period photographs that Hoffmann himself had published in the contemporary press. The goal was to bring the interiors back to their 1911 appearance — the state they were in right after Hoffmann's own renovation.

The permanent exhibition, titled "Messenger of Beauty," walks visitors through Hoffmann's life and career, with particular attention to the birthplace itself, its garden, and the adjoining barn. It is a rare chance to experience a space shaped by one of modern applied design's founding figures directly, rather than through glass display cases — here the architecture itself is the exhibit.

How to get there?

Brtnice lies in the Vysočina region, close to Jihlava, and is best reached by car or regional bus, with good connections to both Jihlava and Brno. The house sits directly on the town's main square (Náměstí Svobody), making it easy to find once you arrive.

When should you visit?

The museum operates seasonally, so it is worth checking current opening hours before setting out, as they can vary through the year. A visit typically takes 30 to 60 minutes and pairs well with a short walk around Brtnice itself, whose historic square has its own quiet charm.

Frequently asked questions

Is this really the house where Hoffmann was born? Yes — it is the same building where Josef Hoffmann was born in 1870, and which he later redesigned himself as a summer residence.

Who runs the museum? Since 2006 it has been jointly operated by the Moravian Gallery in Brno and the MAK (Museum of Applied Arts) in Vienna.

Are the interiors original? The original furnishings were lost during the Communist era. What visitors see today is a 2003–2004 reconstruction based on archival photographs from Hoffmann's own time.

Is there anything to see besides the house itself? The exhibition also includes the adjoining garden and barn, both part of the historic property.