Villa Tivoli

Villa Tivoli was an elegant residential building constructed around 1806 in the Soers district of Aachen-Laurensberg, featuring classical architecture designed by Jakob Couven with expansive gardens and ornate facades typical of early 19th-century noble residences.

Built in 1806 by architect Jakob Couven, Villa Tivoli was named after Emperor Hadrian's summer residence near Rome and served as a private estate that changed hands multiple times, including ownership by photographer Jacob Wothly in 1864 who established a photographic institute on the premises.

The villa became a cultural hub when Jacob Wothly transformed part of the estate into a photography school and optical lens workshop, contributing to technological advancements in 19th-century photography while hosting artistic gatherings that influenced Aachen's creative community.

The original villa no longer exists, having been demolished after World War II, but the site now houses the modern sport park Soers and Trianel's regional headquarters, accessible via public transportation on Krefelder Straße in the Laurensberg district.

Villa Tivoli uniquely transitioned from a noble residence to hosting Alemannia Aachen football club's sports ground from 1908 to 1928, making it one of the few German estates to serve both aristocratic and popular sporting purposes in its history.