A remarkable journey through time

Schulenburg House in Gera

They still exist: those places that are almost a little too beautiful to be true. Places that seem to have sprung from another era and could easily serve as a movie set. Places that bring the past into the present and breathe new life into it. One such place is the Schulenburg House, a strikingly beautiful villa on the outskirts of Gera. Originally designed and built by Henry van de Velde for textile manufacturer Paul Schulenburg and his family, the building is now considered an architectural gem. Yet this fact is by no means a given.

When psychiatrist and art patron Dr. Volker Kielstein purchased Schulenburg House in 1996 together with his late wife, Prof. Rita Kielstein, it was in a disastrous state. Years of vacancy and extensive alterations to the original building structure had taken their toll on the house and the surrounding park; little remained to remind one of the villa’s once-glorious days.

Meticulously renovated and restored over a period of 20 years

Yet it was precisely these buildings that had fascinated Volker Kielstein since his childhood. He grew up very close to Schulenburg House, peering countless times through the cast-iron fence into the overgrown garden and at the magnificent house, which had housed a medical college during the GDR era. After the school was dissolved following German reunification, Kielstein finally purchased the property and began work on his life’s work.

For a full 20 years - from 1997 to 2017 - Schulenburg House underwent extensive restoration and renovation until it could be returned to its original condition. Just what that means becomes clear only when you step inside the building. In fact, it almost feels as if Schulenburg House is alive, just waiting to tell its guests one of its countless stories.

Of course, the fact that the villa feels so alive is no coincidence. When the Kielsteins began the reconstruction, it quickly became clear that it wasn’t just the house itself that needed to be restored to its original state. As many details as possible of the interior design created by the Belgian universal genius Henry van de Velde - from the wallpaper and artwork to the furniture—were to be returned to Schulenburg house as originals, thereby reflecting the visionary signature of this multifaceted artist.

One house, countless stories

And indeed: Schulenburg House, built in 1914 for the Gera-based textile magnate, orchid grower, and art collector Paul Schulenburg and his family, stands today as a unique fusion of history, architecture, art, design, and lifestyle.

Thanks to the loving and meticulous restoration, van de Velde’s masterpiece - which had been misused for decades and subsequently left to decay—has regained its original dignity. It almost seems as if it now wants to express its gratitude—with an atmosphere that is as authentic as it is aesthetic, and countless details just waiting to be discovered.

The person who knows them all is Volker Kielstein. Among his favorite rooms in Schulenburg House is the music room. This room is considered a total work of art by van de Velde and, in addition to its breathtaking furnishings, features a number of remarkable exhibits, including, for example, the original seating group, which was sent to Brazil in 1938 as part of the dowry for Schulenburg’s youngest daughter, Adelheid, returned to Gera in 2006, and was restored to its original condition here. The extraordinary furniture, which Henry van de Velde once designed exclusively for Schulenburg House, was previously owned by a collector couple from Munich. They also bequeathed to Schulenburg House the famous bronze bust of van de Velde from 1913. Van de Velde was a painter, architect, and designer and is considered a pioneer of the later Bauhaus movement.

Another part of the building complex that is particularly close to the heart of van de Velde admirer Dr. Kielstein is the former garage. As a car enthusiast, Paul Schulenburg always owned several vehicles and employed the chauffeur Richard Müller. Where Mercedes and Maybach models once stood and Müller lived with his family, there is now a café with distinctive furnishings. The most striking piece is a seating set complete with a luggage rack, which Henry van de Velde designed in 1934–35 for the first class of the Belgian State Railways. This almost curious gem is complemented by a luggage net, an emergency brake, and various fittings based on van de Velde’s designs, which also belong to the Schulenburg House collection.

A masterpiece with international Appeal

The Belgian architect’s unique style is evident in every corner of the house and throughout the surrounding park. Whether it’s striking features like the staircase with its adjoining flower room and the open entryway with its fireplace and skylight, or the finely crafted living spaces such as the study and bedroom, or the garden of Schulenburg House - which has also been restored to its original condition—the sheer diversity of this place is simply overwhelming.

And so it comes as no surprise that Villa Schulenburg is not only home to a Henry van de Velde Museum—featuring a remarkable collection of book designs by the Belgian jack-of-all-trades—but also serves as the headquarters of the European Association of Friends of Henry van de Velde. Taken as a whole—comprising the building complex, furnishings, and gardens - Schulenburg House is not only unique; it is also considered the artist’s most mature work at the end of his German creative period and enjoys high international acclaim among experts. This is thanks to the Kielstein couple, who have received numerous awards for their passionate work and love for Schulenburg House.

Cover: Photo: © Florian Trykowski, Architecture: Henry van de Velde © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2026