A neo-baroque dream awaits behind these gates. This is Villa Borsig, a testament to grand bourgeois living before World War I. Once home to one of Germany’s wealthiest industrial families, it now serves a vital purpose for the German government.
Picture this: It’s the early 20th century. Ernst von Borsig, a lover of garden art, commissions the landscaping of these grounds. He instructs garden architects Körner and Brodersen to create a masterpiece. The year is 1913.
Imagine the Borsig family strolling through their new garden. Close to the Villa Borsig, a baroque-inspired space unfolds. Parterres and geometrically arranged sections define the landscape. The driveway, the rose garden, and the nursery complement each other harmoniously.
Notice how the section of the peninsula that stretches to the lake transforms into a landscape park. From the terrace, it appears as a meadow reaching the shore. Ernst von Borsig amassed a vast collection of exotic trees and plants. The shores integrate reeds and water lilies into the garden design.
But let’s step back in time. The Borsig family’s connection to this place began in 1898. Paul Ernst and Conrad August Albert von Borsig, grandsons of industrial pioneer Johann Friedrich August Borsig, acquired Reiherwerder. They bought it from the von Humboldt family. Their vision was clear. They wanted to create a new, representative estate for their family. It would replace their former villa in Moabit.
Before the main villa, a smaller one emerged around 1905. Erich Blunck designed this so-called Little Villa or garden house. Then, between 1908 and 1910, Alfred Salinger and Eugen Schmohl planned a palace-like villa. They were among Berlin’s most successful architectural firms. The result? This magnificent three-winged structure with a central pavilion. Its curved arcades facing the garden evoke Potsdam-Sanssouci. This reflected the Borsig family’s elevation to nobility by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1909.
Villa Borsig changed hands after Ernst von Borsig’s death. In 1937, the Reich Ministry of Finance acquired it. Until 1945, it housed the Reich Finance Academy. After the war, from 1946 to 1951, the villa became the residence of the supreme commander of the French troops in Germany. It also served as the seat of the High Commissioner, André François-Poncet.
For a while, Villa Borsig served as a guesthouse for the city of Berlin. It also hosted the Federal Republic of Germany. From 1959, it became the headquarters of the German Foundation for International Development. Since 2005, this Villa Borsig serves as a guesthouse and training center for the Federal Foreign Office.
Inside Villa Borsig, the original features remain. Wood paneling adorns the library, lecture hall, salon, and dining room. Display cabinets, wall structures, a fireplace, and a coffered ceiling add character. Upstairs, in the former private rooms, two bathrooms feature original tiles. Fitted wardrobes and wall and ceiling structures add to the historic charm of the Villa Borsig.
Today, Villa Borsig stands as a reminder of Berlin’s rich history. It represents the grand lifestyle of industrialists. It also plays a vital role in Germany’s diplomatic efforts.