In 1872, a grand villa began to rise on Derfflingerstraße. This is the story of Villa Wuttke. Originally built for Baron von Maltzahn, the villa showcased the late-classicist style popular at the time. The brothers Otto Hugo and Eduard Wuttke designed and constructed this stately home. Their work reflected the Baron’s prominent position in society. He was both a landowner and a member of the Reichstag. Fast forward to the 1970s. Berlin was a divided city, caught in the midst of the Cold War. Villa Wuttke faced demolition. The planned construction of the Französisches Gymnasium threatened its very existence. Protests erupted, passionate pleas to preserve this piece of Berlin’s history. The protests worked. The villa was saved. Instead of demolition, Villa Wuttke underwent a significant transformation. It was integrated into the new Französisches Gymnasium building. Although restored, its interior was largely altered to house the school’s library. The villa’s main entrance now serves as the gateway to the school’s grounds. A space where students gather, surrounded by greenery and the echoes of history. Inside the hallway of Villa Wuttke, memorial plaques commemorate significant figures connected to the Französisches Gymnasium. These include Kurt Levinstein, Ernst Lindenborn and Paul Hartig. Hartig served as the school’s headmaster from 1952 to 1964. He was also chairman of the German-French Society. Another plaque honors Carl Scheibler, a sugar chemist. This building holds a unique place in the neighborhood’s history. Villa Wuttke is the only villa remaining from the Kielganviertel’s first development phase. While the name “Villa Wuttke” has stuck, the correct name is actually “Villa Maltzahn”. This stately building stands as a testament to Berlin’s resilience, its ability to blend the old with the new.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to