Villa von der Heydt
A hidden jewel with a turbulent history
An idyllically located Neo-Renaissance building by the Landwehrkanal – the Villa von der Heydt, whose past is anything but idyllic.
The builder would probably never have dreamed that shark fins would later be eaten, illegal games played and sweets produced in his house. The inconspicuous villa on Reichpietschufer has an interesting and varied past to tell.
The history of the villa
August Freiherr von der Heydt built one of the last remaining villas in the Tiergarten as his private residence between 1860 and 1862. The neo-Renaissance building was also designed for representative purposes. The famous garden artist Lenné designed the green spaces here. Von der Heydt, who later became Bismarck's minister, lived in his idyllic villa until his death in 1874.
Von der Heydt's son Eduard rents the villa to the first Chinese envoy of the empire. With Liu Xihong, the clouds of smoke from opium and tobacco move into the villa on the Landwehr Canal. He turned the villa into an inn serving exotic dishes and delicacies such as dried duck, puffer ham and shark fins.
In 1890, the property returned to the von der Heydt family. August's great-nephew is banker and art collector Karl. He organises lavish parties and establishes the house as a salon for Berlin society. Many poets, including Rainer Maria Rilke, come and go. After the First World War, the Allgemeine deutsche Sportverein e.V. acquired the villa. The name is deceptive, because behind it lies an exclusive club. Illegal games of chance - poker and baccarat - are played on the premises. in 1933, a raid puts an end to the unauthorised activities.
Destruction and reconstruction
The building was destroyed by bombs in the Second World War, with the exception of the basement. In the post-war years, a clandestine moonshine distillery moves in. Later, chocolates and sweets are produced here. in 1966, the Villa von der Heydt is awarded listed building status - now the property can recover from the stresses and strains of the past decades. in 1971, planning begins for the reconstruction of the upper floors and the renovation of the vaulted cellar. The villa was reconstructed from 1976 to 1980. Since then, the property has been the official residence of the President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation.
The villa is located in the Calandrelli complex, in the shade of tall, old trees - it is best to sit down in the cafeteria of the neighbouring Bauhaus Archive and take in the building in peace and quiet over a cup of coffee.
