Engraved in time, Villa Bader stands as a testament to Baden’s golden age. Baden, near Vienna, attracted spa and summer guests. The glamorous Imperial Court drew them in. Industrial magnates, bankers, and factory owners also came. They enjoyed the area’s beauty. They also appreciated the cultural and social attractions. The parks and baths were especially popular.
These families built villas in different styles. Historicist, art nouveau, and modernist styles were all used. Many of these families had Jewish roots. They shaped summer life in Baden until 1938. This exhibition is dedicated to ten families and their villas.
Strolling through Baden is a feast for the eyes. Beautiful villas are everywhere. Great architects from different eras planned them. They sculpt the town’s appearance.
In 1846, Johann Schmidberger built a villa. It was extended with a striking metal veranda. This veranda came from the 1889 World Exhibition. Industrialist Adolph Ignaz Mautner Markhof owned property here. So did “Sweetie” Heller, Gustav Heller. Composer Heinrich Strecker acquired the villa after 1938.
Otto Wagner built two villas. In 1867, he created an imposing early work for banker Gustav Epstein. Then, in 1885, the Villa Hahn took shape. It was also for a banker, Samuel Ritter von Hahn. He was the director general of the Länderbank. Baden had a high concentration of bankers. Albert Benbassat was among them. In 1937, he auctioned off his villa’s luxurious furnishings.
Alexander Wielemans designed a spectacular villa for Wilhelm and Ida Gutmann in Baden. It was dated 1882. Wielemans also designed the Palace of Justice in Vienna and the Town Hall in Graz. The Gutmann villa included a glasshouse and bowling alley. There was also a salettl, a kind of gazebo. Also included was a moated chateau with grotto. Wilhelm Gutmann and his brother David were innovative in coal production. They were also generous patrons and sponsors.
Jakob Gartner designed a villa in Baden in 1899 for Adolf Gallia. Gartner significantly influenced the Vienna Ringstrasse. Adolf and his brother Moriz Gallia made their wealth as patent lawyers. They specialized in gas mantles.
Ludwig Baumann adapted a villa for Heinrich Klinger in Baden in 1884. Baumann was an architect of revival Renaissance and revival Baroque styles. Klinger was a linen industrialist and president of the Jewish Community.
In 1912, art nouveau arrived in Baden. Otto Prutscher built a villa for Moriz Rothberger. Rothberger was a textile merchant and department store owner. A year later, Prutscher built a villa for Rudolf Bienenfeld. Bienenfeld was a close friend of Rothberger’s.
All these architects contributed to Baden’s unique flair. It is still the secret to the town’s fascination and charm. Villa Bader stands as a reminder of this rich history. It embodies the architectural diversity and cultural vibrancy of Baden’s past.