History

1902

Design by Henry van de Velde in Weimar

1903

Construction of Villa Esche

1911

Extension according to the plans by Henry van de Velde

Death of Johanna Esche

1945

Herbert Esche left Chemnitz in October

1945-1947

Seat of the Soviet military command

1947-1952

Residence of, among others, Hans Herbert Esche, son of the building owner

1952-1964

Used by the German Ministry for State Security

1964-1989

Educational establishment for the regional Chamber of Crafts

1989-1998

Vacant with progressive deterioration

1998

Purchased by the land and building management company, Grundstücks- und Gebäudewirtschafts-Gesellschaft m.b.H., with the aim of preserving Villa Esche as a monument for public use

1998-2001

Comprehensive restoration under the auspices of the architectural office of Werner Wendisch, accompanied by experts in the preservation of historical monuments and from the appointed art advisory council

2001

Opened as the Henry van de Velde Museum, concert setting, conference venue and event location

Became a stop on the European Henry van de Velde Route

2011

Awarded 2nd place among the TOP conference locations in Germany

2014

Villa Esche recognised as an architectural icon of the 21st Century