Peeking through the wrought iron gates, you might not realize the stories held within Villa Liebknecht. This villa is more than just an old house. It is a testament to ambition, innovation, and a family’s complex history.
Let’s step back to 1898. Architect Emanuel Heimann designed this two-story house for what would become Villa Liebknecht. He used his own villa as a model. Originally, the entrance was on the side. You walked through a vestibule into a large hall. From there, you could access the kitchen, dining room, and living room on the ground floor. Upstairs were bedrooms, a maid’s room, and a bathroom. The street facade featured a distinctive gable with timber framing and a bay window. A wooden veranda stretched along the side, covering both floors.
Around 1900, the villa underwent its first expansion, marking an influence of the country house movement. The property was enlarged to orient the house toward the garden. Before that, the villa was strictly oriented to the street. The layout was changed to connect the living spaces to the garden with small steps. A new living and dining room were added. They enclosed a centrally located winter garden. The kitchen was expanded with direct access to the dining room.
More changes came in 1922. These renovations brought back the symmetry of a classical villa. Yet it still incorporated country house elements. It became a unique mix of villa and country house styles. No other building in Neubabelsberg looks quite like it. Walter Siegmund commissioned these changes. The architect was Paul Karchow from Berlin. Karchow moved the vestibule into the former open veranda. He enclosed it and added a staircase. The garden facade lost some of its lively character in favor of symmetry. The interior had simple decor with some neo-Baroque touches. This dates back to the renovation before World War I.
Around 1930, Dr. Otto Liebknecht, a chemist, became the resident. Otto was the son of Wilhelm Liebknecht. Wilhelm co-founded the German Social Democratic Party. Otto’s older brother was Karl Liebknecht. Karl was a Marxist politician and Reichstag deputy from Potsdam. After Wilhelm II abdicated, Karl proclaimed the Republic from the balcony of the Berlin City Palace.
Otto Liebknecht specialized in water chemistry. He taught at the University of Berlin. In 1907, he developed perborate. This was a key ingredient in the Persil washing powder. Otto’s son, Kurt Liebknecht, shared his uncle Karl’s political beliefs. During the Nazi era, Kurt went to the Soviet Union. After returning, he became the first president of the Building Academy of the GDR.
Today, Villa Liebknecht stands as a reminder of the past. It is a testament to architectural styles, scientific innovation, and a family deeply involved in German history. The villa shows how one building can embody so many different stories.