Here stands Villa Jandorf. It is a testament to a bygone era. This villa whispers stories of family life, ambition, and the tumultuous currents of Berlin’s history.
Villa Jandorf is located on Gelfertstraße. It is a protected monument in Dahlem. The house was commissioned by Moritz Jandorf in the 1920s. Friedrich Blau was the architect. Otto Marzillier handled the execution.
Moritz Jandorf was the brother of Adolf Jandorf. Adolf was the founder of the famous KaDeWe department store. The Kaufhaus des Westens significantly contributed to Berlin’s growth as a major city. Moritz managed the Jandorf department store. It was located at Brunnen- Ecke Invalidenstraße.
A man of Moritz’s stature required a suitable residence. Friedrich Blau designed the plans. The design extended to the garage. It also included the garden’s perimeter with its brick fence pillars.
The Berlin Monument Authority recognized Villa Jandorf. It acknowledged its significance as an architectural testament. It reflects the transformative period during and after the inflation era.
Villa Jandorf showcases late Baroque Classicism. The building has three stories. It features a symmetrical layout. The floor plan measures approximately 330 square meters. Its dimensions are 15.7 meters by 21 meters.
The street-facing risalit is a striking feature. It culminates in an expansive open balcony. A lean-to roof with dormers tops the structure. A quarter-round addition with superimposed bay windows graces the southwest corner. Four light-colored limestone vases adorn the horizontal gable. They face the street. On the garden side, trapezoidal projections extend to the north and south. An open terrace stretches between them.
The villa and garage share an orange facade. An ornate wrought-iron gate marks the entrance. Iron bars with central ornaments protect the ground floor windows. These metal features are original.
The Jandorf family lived here until 1934. Their trace disappears from Berlin after that.
In the early 1940s, A. Ludwig, a wholesale merchant, owned the property. The address book confirms Ludwig’s ownership in 1943.
After the war in 1945, Colonel Edgar N. Johnson used the villa as his headquarters. He stayed here for five months.
In 1970, Werner Kühn, a senior building official, was listed as the property owner.
There were plans to rent Villa Jandorf. It would house the Freie Universität’s economics and social sciences faculty in the 2010s.
The current owner is unknown.
Villa Jandorf remains a silent witness to the past. It connects us to the Jandorf family. It reminds us of Berlin’s vibrant history.