Prague lawyer Josef Winternitz had the villa built for his family in 1932. It is one of the last realized projects of the famous architect Adolf Loos (in collaboration with Karel Lhota), characterized by his unmistakable signature style—particularly the ingenious arrangement of the interior space, known as the Raumplan. However, the family enjoyed their dream home for less than ten years.

In 1941, under the pressure of racial persecution, the Winternitz family was forced to leave the villa. Josef and his son Petr subsequently perished in Auschwitz. After the war, his surviving wife, Jenny, and daughter, Suzanna, tried to reclaim the house, but the state made the restitution conditional on unreasonably high taxes. Left without resources, they were forced to "donate" the villa to the state, and the family estate became a kindergarten for the next half-century.

The turning point came after the Velvet Revolution in 1989. The descendants of the original owners reclaimed the house in 1997, and thanks to the immense efforts of Stanislav Cysař, the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Winternitz, it underwent a meticulous reconstruction. Today, the family operates the villa as a living cultural center open to the public. Alongside the architecture and a rich cultural program, an emphasis is also placed on commemorating the history of the 20th century.