The Villa Gontard

Until recently, little was known about the Villa Gontard, today the headquarters of the General Directorate of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, or about the owner whose name it bears, Paul von Gontard (1868-1941). Evelyn Wöldicke has undertaken a thorough investigation of the Villa, bringing to light the fascinating story of the building, its inhabitants, and its architects, Cremer & Wolffenstein, whose firm was prominent in Wilhelminian Berlin. The history of the house, built in 1907/08, also mirrors the development of the Berlin Tiergarten district, which originated as a popular destination for excursions, along the outskirts of the park. The neighbourhood gradually evolved into a prestigious residential area for Berlin's economic elite during the time of the German Empire. The Villa Gontard is one of few buildings that was not completely destroyed during World War II. Today it is part of the Kulturforum, which was built on the former site in the Tiergarten district.