Nestled in Potsdam’s Nauener Vorstadt at Puschkinallee 5 stands Villa Fischbach. This listed building whispers stories of a bygone era. Today, we will explore the history of Villa Fischbach.
Eduard Fischbach commissioned the villa in 1872. He was the court plumber master. Reinhold Persius created the design. Albert Lüdicke, a master mason, carried out the construction. The Villa Fischbach was completed in 1873.
Following Eduard Fischbach’s death in 1877, his widow Marie Fischbach became the owner. The 1879 Potsdam address book confirms this. She lived there with Helene Schneider. Helene was the widow of a building inspector. She was also a Fischbach by birth. The 1903 address book lists Helene as the owner.
In 1904, the “Fischbachsche Erben,” or Fischbach heirs, were registered as owners. They sold the property to Wilhelmine Elisabeth Rogge. She was a widow and estate owner from Döberitz. Wilhelmine, born von Bredow, lived in the villa until her death in 1917. Afterward, ownership transferred to the “Rogge-Döberitzschen Erben,” the Rogge-Döberitz heirs.
Elisabeth Rogge-Doeberitz Foundation was established on January 27, 1920. Its purpose was to improve living conditions for needy single women in Brandenburg. Address books then listed the “Rogge-Döberitzsche Familienstiftung” as the owner. In 1920, the housing authority forcibly separated apartments within the villa. Several people then inhabited them.
Around 1979, Soviet military personnel used the building as a kindergarten. Restoration work took place after 1997. As of 2017, the Villa Fischbach is used for commercial purposes.
The Villa Fischbach showcases a late classicist style. The building has five bays and two stories. It features a shallow hipped roof. A two-story loggia with a flat triangular gable projects from the street-facing facade. Akrotere once crowned the gable.
Pillars and columns support the entablature on the ground floor. On the upper floor, pillars and caryatids provide support. A flight of steps leads into the front garden. Pilasters and ornamented canopies frame the ground floor windows. These suggest akrotere. Segmental arch canopies top the upper-floor windows. The entrance area slightly protrudes from the cubic structure on the south side.
Today, Villa Fischbach stands as a reminder of Potsdam’s rich history. Its walls have witnessed generations. From the Fischbach family to the Rogge-Döberitz foundation, each owner has left their mark. As you stand here, imagine the lives that unfolded within these walls. Villa Fischbach continues to stand, a testament to Potsdam’s enduring spirit.