Villa Blumenthal

Villa Blumenthal is a unique and charming residence located in Bad Ischl, a spa town in Upper Austria. The villa is notable for being one of the earliest examples of prefabricated construction using timber panels, as well as for its connection to the famous operetta “Im Weißen Rößl” (The White Horse Inn).

The Origin of Villa Blumenthal

The villa was originally designed by Johannes Lange, a Berlin architect, in 1890. He worked for the Wolgaster Actien-Gesellschaft für Holzbearbeitung, a company that specialized in wood processing and prefabrication. The villa was made from pitch pine, a durable and weather-resistant wood from the North American pitch pine tree. The villa also featured a shingle roof and ornamental carvings on the porches and windows, giving it a historicist and romantic style.

The villa was first assembled and exhibited at the 1891 International Hygiene Exhibition in Dresden, Germany. It was then dismantled and shipped to the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, where it was reassembled and displayed as part of the German Village, a showcase of German culture and architecture. The villa attracted many visitors, including the playwright Oskar Blumenthal, who was impressed by its beauty and functionality. He decided to buy the villa and have it transported to Bad Ischl, where he had a summer residence.

The Legacy of Villa Blumenthal

The villa was rebuilt on the Soleweg, a scenic road between Hallstatt and Bad Ischl, near the village of Engleithen. Blumenthal used the villa as his retreat and creative space, where he wrote and collaborated with other artists. In 1896, he and Gustav Kadelburg wrote the comedy “Im Weißen Rössl” in the villa, which was inspired by the local hotel of the same name. The comedy was a success and later served as the basis for the operetta “Im Weißen Rößl”, which premiered in 1930 and was composed by Ralph Benatzky, with contributions from Robert Stolz, Bruno Granichstaedten, and Robert Gilbert. The operetta was a hit and was adapted into several films, most notably the 1960 version starring Peter Alexander and Waltraut Haas.

The villa also hosted other famous guests, such as the composer Franz Lehár, the actor Max Pallenberg, and the painter Gustav Klimt. From 1946 until his death in 1973, the villa was the home of Alfred Wilhelm Brandel, a Hungarian-born artist who painted landscapes and portraits. After his death, the villa was inherited by his daughter, who sold it in 1981 to Peter Janisch, the founder of the pornographic publisher KM. Janisch renovated and winterized the villa, making it suitable for year-round living. He also added a swimming pool and a sauna to the property. In 2018, he sold the villa to Alexander de Goederen, a music publisher who was born in Ischl and had a fondness for the villa since his childhood.

Villa Blumenthal Today

Villa Blumenthal is currently a private residence and is not open to the public. However, it can be seen from the road and is a popular attraction for tourists and fans of the operetta. The villa is also a cultural monument and is protected by the Austrian Federal Monuments Office. The villa is a remarkable example of prefabricated architecture and a witness to the rich history and culture of Bad Ischl. It is a testament to the vision and creativity of its original designer, Johannes Lange, and its various owners and occupants, who left their mark on the villa and the world.

Bad Ischl, Austria