“Stand firm my house in the world’s turmoil” The inscription above the Peter-Behrens-Haus’s western lintel speaks volumes. It hints at the turbulent times when this remarkable building took shape. We stand before the Peter-Behrens-Haus a testament to early modernism. Peter Behrens a versatile artist designed this villa. He wasn’t just an architect. He was a graphic designer a typeface designer a product and furniture designer. He even designed the lettering “Dem deutschen Volke” for the Reichstag building. His work for AEG established corporate design. He created a uniform look for everything from letterheads to electric kettles and factories.
The Peter-Behrens-Haus is more than just a pretty face. It’s a three-story almost square villa. Its light gray plaster facade is accented by green glazed facing bricks and blue-red iron clinker bricks. The high curved pediments enhance the architectural ceramics. Stylized eagle wings adorn the entrance portal referencing Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophy. The floor plan is visible from the street. To the left of the entrance is the music room. The dining room is behind it. To the right is the ladies’ room.
The second floor holds the library above the entrance. There is a bright studio for the master of the house. The bedroom bathroom and toilet are also on this floor. Behrens extended his architectural vision to the garden. The dining room opened onto a terrace with a staircase leading to the hillside.
The interiors were meticulously planned. Each room featured a specific basic geometric shape. This shape guided the decorative motifs. The music room was dramatic with dark stained furniture. The dining room was lighter and more friendly. Parts of this interior design can be seen at the Artists’ Colony Museum.
The Peter-Behrens-Haus wasn’t just a home. It was a statement. Art historian Julius Meier-Graefe considered it perfect. He thought it made his journey worthwhile. However Behrens sold the villa shortly after its completion. He never lived there. He moved on to direct the Düsseldorf School of Arts and Crafts.
Despite damage and fire in 1944 the exterior walls remain. The clinker pilasters and green architectural ceramics survived. Today the Peter-Behrens-Haus stands as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Mathildenhöhe. It’s a reminder of the Darmstadt artists’ colony a forerunner of Werkbund’s model house exhibitions. The Peter-Behrens-Haus shows us the evolution of modern architecture. It symbolizes the house as a key theme in shaping modern design. It’s a building that embodies resilience beauty and a fascinating history. A true gem.