This imposing villa, with its sweeping semicircular driveway and wrought-iron gates, sits on a quiet residential street. Built in 1929 for a mining director when the area was still rural, the building boasts a storied past—it even housed a girls' boarding school for a time. In the early 1980s, the stately home was subdivided into four condominiums, with the first floor converted into two separate units, a division that persists today. A comprehensive restoration in 2004/2005 prioritized preserving the building's historic character. Most apartments were meticulously updated, with the exception of the larger units on the upper floors. Only with a change in ownership did this bel étage apartment finally receive the attention it deserved. Its new owner has lovingly restored it to much of its former splendor.

"Those were thrilling months brimming with unexpected discoveries," reflects Dr. Jeanina Schlitzer on her two-year renovation journey. To understand the apartment's original character, the owner invested considerable time studying archival floor plans and blueprints, then methodically removing built-in cabinetry and layers of old plaster to reveal what lay beneath. This detective work uncovered a graceful arched opening that now reunites two rooms separated for decades. A forgotten heating niche resurfaced, and once the terrace's damaged surface was removed, delicate wrought-iron balustrade details emerged. To honor the original floor plan, the apartment's layout was reconceived—sacrificing a guest bath in the process. The most demanding challenge was sourcing and installing windows faithful to the period, which required an extensive search for a skilled craftsman. The new herringbone oak parquet—laid throughout except in the bathroom—mirrors the original flooring preserved in the apartment above. A reclaimed ethanol fireplace found its ideal spot in an alcove, missing plasterwork was restored, and a period-appropriate radiator replaced its modern predecessor. Every door received fresh paint, and custom baseboards were fabricated to match original proportions while meeting contemporary standards—a precise task complicated by slightly uneven walls. The refined window and door hardware represents the fruit of meticulous research. The effort paid dividends: these sand-toned rooms now radiate warmth and authentic period character.

Photos:

S Immobilien GmbH, Sparkasse Essen

(Published in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 01|24)