Hidden behind a veil of trees stands Villa Hofmeier. Its imposing presence hints at a rich history. This magnificent villa in Berlin’s Nikolassee district wasn’t always known by this name.
Originally built between 1901 and 1903 the villa was designed by architect Ewald Becher. He also designed the neighboring building at Wallotstrasse 12. The villa’s first owner was Edgar Jaffe a prominent economics professor. He co-edited the Archive for Social Science and Social Policy with Max Weber and Werner Sombart. Ironically Professor Jaffe and his family never actually lived in the villa.
In 1919 Oskar Grun an ironworks owner purchased the property. He lived there with his wife and daughter. His daughter’s husband Georg Braun and their son Herbert Braun also resided there. The family’s life took a tragic turn after Hitler’s rise to power. Herbert Braun’s political activism with the SPD led to his imprisonment in Sachsenhausen. He later escaped to Shanghai. His parents followed him but sadly died there.
Under the Nuremberg laws Villa Hofmeier was expropriated. Hermann Goring’s Reich Hunting Association used it as an office for the Reich Hunting Museum. After the war a button factory occupied the building. Then a remarkable event occurred. In 1952 Herbert Braun returned from Israel. He reclaimed his family’s home thanks to a court ruling. He lived there until 1966. After his death his widow inherited it. Later parts of the villa became a nursing home.
Finally in 1995 Christoph Kopp inherited the villa. He and his family moved into the top floor. The Wissenschaftskolleg renovated the remaining floors thanks to a grant from the Berlin Lottery. They officially named it Villa Jaffe after its original owner. Today the villa serves as a valuable resource for fellows working within the Wissenschaftskolleg. Its imposing Corinthian columns and rounded gable are architectural highlights. The coat of arms held by a griffin on the gable is a truly unique detail. Villa Hofmeier stands as a testament to resilience history and architectural beauty.