Built in 1887 by architect Wilhelm Walther, this magnificent Westend villa occupies a sprawling 3,000 m² plot. Walther earned his reputation—and his place as a key figure in eclecticism—through elegantly detailed designs. The property served as his own residence. Today, the Wilhelmine era left Berlin dotted with his significant buildings, including his later Königsallee home from 1912, a structure so grand it's still called "Villa Wilhelm Walther" for its sheer scale. The house on Spreetalallee, however, has undergone far more profound transformations over the decades.

Until recently, a former tourism entrepreneur called it home, transforming the villa into a luxury residence befitting her Persian heritage. When the current owner took over, the building had deteriorated to near ruin—the roof partially collapsed, birds nested inside. Undeterred, she assembled a restoration team: architect Holger Hansen brought visionary expertise to resurrect the structure as a combined residence and office, while interior designer Karim El-Barbari sourced furnishings and curated the oriental-exotic aesthetic his client envisioned. The result: 1,000 m² of meticulously reimagined living and working space. The piano nobile was completely gutted and redesigned; the basement gained an indoor pool, cinema, and fitness room. A prized collection of signed Persian carpets became the design anchor, with furniture arranged around these textile treasures. Silk, velvet, leather, marble, crystal fixtures, and mirrors were deployed without restraint—particularly an intense pink that became the owner's signature, earning the property the nickname "Villa Pink." The interior draws inspiration from French Art Deco and Vienna's Academy style of the 1930s.

Though situated on a busy thoroughfare, stepping through the garden gate transports you into a serene oasis—the grand Wilhelmine villa instantly eclipsing the pulse of the city beyond. The parklike grounds unfold in distinct zones, each offering different ways to linger, crowned by an expansive pool. Adjacent sits a glass pavilion available for private events.

www.studiohansen.berlin

Photography:
Mark Seelen
www.seelenplus.com

Catherine Scofoni
www.acscoffoni.com

(Published in CUBE Berlin 03|24)