Villa Preiss, Functionalist villa in Smíchov, Czech Republic

Villa Preiss sits on U Mrázovky Street in the Malvazinky district and is a four-story residential building from the 1930s. The house keeps its original architecture with characteristic features from that era.

Jaroslav Preiss, head of Živnobanka, commissioned architect Eduard Hnilička to build the villa in 1931 for his secretary and companion Jarmila Demmerová, whom he later married. After World War II the four-storey house was confiscated and rebuilt, and Antonín Novotný moved in. It was later divided into four flats for communist officials including Vasil Biľak, František Pitra, Jan Fojtík and Josef Kempný. After 1989 it passed to Prague 5 and housed the South Korean embassy for a time.

The villa's name comes from Jaroslav Preiss, head of Živnobanka, who had it built in 1931 for his secretary and later wife Jarmila Demmerová. After 1989 it passed to Prague 5 and housed the South Korean embassy for a time; today it belongs to Daniel Křetínský, owner of AC Sparta Prague.

The building is a private residence and visible from the street, but cannot be entered as it remains occupied. Visitors can photograph it from outside and explore the neighborhood's architecture.

After the 1989 revolution the villa passed to Prague 5 and ordinary residents moved in; for a time it also housed the South Korean embassy. Today it belongs to Daniel Křetínský, majority owner of the EPH energy group and of AC Sparta Prague.