Imagine living in a Greek temple right here in Dresden. That’s the feeling Villa Ilgen evokes with its neoclassical design. Built in 1890 and 1891, the Villa Ilgen wasn’t always named that. It was first called Villa Tusculum. Lieutenant Neumann commissioned the build by architect Martin Pietzsch.
Soon, Neumann faced financial troubles. He took out several mortgages on his Tusculum. In 1899, Hermann Ilgen, a wealthy pharmacist, acquired it. Ilgen made his fortune selling mouse poison. His business was based in Kötzschenbroda. He constructed many buildings in Dresden, including the Kaiserpalast. He also built the Ilgen-Kampfbahn stadium near the Großer Garten.
Ilgen significantly altered the Villa Ilgen’s interior. He used it as his primary residence in later years. In the 1930s, he even stored his coffin inside. He partly converted the villa into a museum. Ilgen passed away in the Villa Ilgen. Now it carries his name.
After World War II, a construction company occupied the villa. In 1991, Ilgen’s heirs regained ownership. The Villa Ilgen was renovated in the 1990s. Today, it houses the Hermann-Ilgen-Stiftung. A plaque was placed on the outer wall in 2007 to honor Ilgen.
Villa Ilgen is one of Blasewitz’s most magnificent villas. Its design is neoclassical. The main facade on Loschwitzer Straße has seven bays. It resembles a Greek temple with Corinthian columns. A grand staircase leads to the garden. The Prellerstraße facade features five bays. It also has columns but is designed as a veranda.
Above the Loschwitzer Straße side, a large gable depicts Demeter and Mercury. The Prellerstraße gable showcases Saxonia, the patron saint of Saxony. It also includes representations of industry, trade, art, and science.
Ilgen altered the interior significantly. Many of these features are still intact today. The interior design blends Neobaroque and Art Nouveau styles. The entrance hall is designed as an atrium with a skylight. Other rooms connect to this central space. The renovation of Villa Ilgen was extensive. It was comparable to the restoration of the Frauenkirche but on a smaller scale. The villa stands as a testament to Hermann Ilgen’s legacy.