Professor Dittmar Finkler’s legacy stands before us. This is Villa Finkler. Built in 1900 and 1901 it’s more than just a house. It’s a story of ambition. A story of architectural shifts. And a story of family life in early 20th-century Bonn.
The Villa Finkler wasn’t built in a single smooth operation. It began with Dittmar Finkler a prominent physician and professor at the University of Bonn. He envisioned a grand residence. His initial choice was the Westdeutsche Bau-Actien-Gesellschaft a Dortmund-based firm. August Scheidgen a Bonn architect oversaw the local work. Construction started. Then came a dispute. The Westdeutsche Bau-AG withdrew from the project.
Undeterred Finkler turned to Kayser & von Groszheim a prestigious Berlin architectural firm. Heinrich Rings became the local representative. New plans were approved. Construction resumed. The Villa Finkler was completed. It became home to Professor Finkler his wife and their two daughters. A cook two maids and a coachman’s family lived in the outbuildings.
The Villa Finkler is a picturesque and abstracted Baroque style. The design is infused with Jugendstil decorative elements. The riverfront was particularly striking. The original design included a pavilion. But this was never built.
In 1907 a significant alteration took place. Finkler commissioned the renovation of the Rhine-facing winter garden. The original iron structure was replaced with oak. A polygonal bay window was added. Julius Rolffs a Bonn architect oversaw this work.
After World War II the University of Bonn’s children’s clinic acquired Villa Finkler. It housed administrative offices and a ballroom. This use continued until 2020 when the clinic relocated. The University retains the property.
Today Villa Finkler is a reminder of Bonn’s history. Its architecture tells tales of family. Of professional success and architectural evolution. It stands as a testament to the lives of those who lived within its walls. This is the story of Villa Finkler.