Tragedy and beauty intertwine at Landhaus Rubinski. This villa stands before you. It is located on Seestraße 45. The Landhaus Rubinski graces the shore of Heiliger See.
Landhaus Rubinski is more than a building. It’s a silent witness to a tumultuous past. It whispers stories of Jewish heritage. It echoes with the pain of persecution. It resonates with resilience.
Julius Rubinski commissioned the villa’s construction in 1912. He was a Jewish merchant. The house proudly bears his name. Rubinski lived here with his wife Paula David. He worked as an authorized representative. He worked for the department store M. Hirsch in Potsdam.
Julius Rubinski died in November 1916. Paula remarried in November 1918. Her new husband was Sanitätsrat Alfred Rothschild. He was a urologist. They continued to live in the villa. Paula Rothschild owned the Hirsch department store until 1938. Then came the “Aryanization”.
During the Nazi era, the property was seized in 1941. It became the Potsdam police headquarters. SS leader Heinrich von Kozierowski resided here from 1941 to 1945. Paula Rothschild retained a right of use. But the Gestapo forced her to relinquish it in 1942.
After World War II, Landhaus Rubinski became public property in the GDR. From 1958, it served as the “Haus der Lehrer”. It belonged to the trade union for education and science.
Following reunification, the Berlin-Brandenburg Foreign Society was founded here in 1991. Around 1995, real estate speculator Johannes Rey acquired the property. He rented it out to private educational institutions. Sometimes it stood empty.
In 2005, fashion designer Wolfgang Joop bought the villa. He acquired it for 2.1 million euros. It happened during a forced auction. The property included a 2,300 square meter plot on the lake.
Landhaus Rubinski gained protected status as a historical monument in January 2006. This included its fencing.
Look closely at the Stolpersteine before you. These stumbling stones commemorate Paula and Alfred Rothschild. Artist Gunter Demnig placed them here on May 19, 2022. They honor the last Jewish residents.
Notice the garden’s design. It features clear divisions. There is a large lawn between the villa and the lake. Border plantings extend to the water. They incorporate a blockhouse. Light gray shell limestone and graywacke bring calm and elegance.
Landhaus Rubinski stands as a reminder of Potsdam’s complex history. It embodies personal tragedy and architectural beauty. Take a moment to reflect on the lives touched by this place. Consider the stories etched into its walls.