Schwartzsche Villa

The Schwartzsche Villa is not only a gallery with rotating exhibitions, but also a concert hall, studio, theater and café.

The Schwartzsche Villa has had an eventful history. Construction of the house as the summer residence of the Carl Schwartz family began in 1895. It was renovated in 1915, and various members of the Schwartz family lived there. Gabriele Schwartz, a daughter of Carl Schwartz, died in a bombing raid during the final weeks of the war in 1945. Shortly thereafter, the house's last resident also passed away and it stood completely empty. For a time, it housed an orphanage and later served as a warehouse for Butter Beck.

Cultural center after many years

In 1961, the Land of Berlin acquired the property. Over the years, plans for a new development changed. Since 1981, the "Kulturinitiative Lankwitz" has advocated for the preservation of the building and its use as a cultural center. However, it took several more years before the cornerstone could be laid in 1992 for the conversion into a cultural center under the auspices of the district office.

One house, many uses

The building offers a variety of uses: The attic houses a studio that is rented out for several weeks at a time. The upper floor features the gallery and the chamber theater, while the ground floor houses the Large and Small Salons - complete with a grand piano - as well as the fireplace room, which serves as a meeting space. The basement contains an etching workshop, a photo lab and a rehearsal stage.

Theater at the Schwartzsche Villa

The Office of Culture and Libraries, within the Department of Culture, operates the gallery and organizes a number of concerts and readings. The majority of events - primarily classical concerts, readings accompanied by music, children’s theater, and smaller theater productions for adults - are organized independently by the event organizers.

Address, Opening Hours and Contact Information

• Address:
  Grunewaldstraße 55
  12165 Berlin
  City map
• Phone: [phone]
• Internet: www.berlin.de
• Opening Hours: Gallery: Daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible entrance to the courtyard (wooden door), elevator available. Accessible restroom on the 1st basement level.
• Admission Fee:
  Free admission to exhibitions