Gabled giants flank its sides. This is Villa Müller-Schall. It stands before us as a testament to Bremen’s rich history. Built in 1902, this impressive villa was designed by Fritz Dunkel for Johann Friedrich Müller-Schall. Müller-Schall was a merchant and banker who had returned from New York.
The Villa Müller-Schall is located in Bremen-Schwachhausen. Its address is Hollerallee 75 / Parkstraße 107. Since 1993, the Bremische Evangelische Kirche has used the building. It serves as a forum Kirche. The building has been under Bremen’s monument protection since 1979.
Notice the two prominent risalits with stepped gables. Also observe the staircase leading to the veranda. The villa has a plastered facade and a gabled roof. It offers 538 square meters of living space. The style is Neo-Renaissance.
Take a look at the balcony above the carriage entrance. It has battlements. Strangely, it lacks access. It serves no practical purpose. Arthur Fitger artistically designed the entrance hall. His work includes the ceiling painting. He also created a frieze illustrating the Easter walk from Goethe’s Faust. Fitger may have also painted the artwork in the Kaiser- und Senatszimmer.
Inside the Villa Müller-Schall, various styles are present. There is a fireplace room. Observe the staircase near the hall. Consider the dumbwaiter and elevator. Do not overlook the billiard room. Finally, note the Jugendstil tile frieze in the basement.
Johann Friedrich Müller-Schall employed several servants. These included cooks, tutors, gardeners, and coachmen. The family lived in the house until 1930. After a period of vacancy, the SA Group Nordsee occupied it from 1934. This was the Nazi stormtroopers’ headquarters.
The building remained in the family’s possession until 1956. In 1945, the wool import firm Fuhrmann & Co moved in as a tenant. They became the owners in 1956. The company’s boss, Henry S. Thomas, redecorated the rooms. He used mobile dividing walls. His office was in the master bedroom. The house and a wooden barrack in the garden accommodated over 50 employees.
In 1991, the firm ceased operations. The Bremische Evangelische Kirche bought the house. It converted it into the forum Kirche by 1993. The conversion included five seminar rooms. A canteen was built in the air-raid shelter. Today, the house accommodates the Evangelische Bildungswerk. It also houses the Landesjugendpfarramt. Additionally, the BEK media center is located here.
The Villa Müller-Schall is part of the Kaiser-Friedrich-Platz ensemble. It belongs to the Hollerallee group of houses, which are also under monument protection. Fritz Dunkel designed many multi-story residential buildings in Bremen. These include the Wohnhausgruppe Besselstraße. He also designed the villas Büsing, Frerichs, Fritze, Hirschfeld, Lampe, Plump, Wätjen, and Wolde.
As we conclude our visit to Villa Müller-Schall, consider its transformations. From a family home to a Nazi headquarters. Later, a wool import firm and now a church forum. This building has witnessed much of Bremen’s history. It continues to serve the community today.