Villa Sunneschy, Cultural property in Stäfa, Switzerland

Villa Sunneschy is a residential building located on Seestrasse in Stäfa, positioned near the Lake Zürich waterfront with commanding views of the water and surrounding landscape. The property comprises a main villa alongside supporting structures that together form a cohesive architectural ensemble.

Villa Sunneschy was built between 1906 and 1908 for Rudolf Baumann (1868–1952) and Anna Baumann-Kienast (1880–1961), to designs by the architects Otto Pfleghard and Max Haefeli in the Jugendstil style. In 1952 Stäfa residents bought it through a cooperative founded for the purpose, preventing a sale to outsiders. The municipality of Stäfa has owned it since 1978, and it was extensively restored in 2001.

The villa's name comes from the Sunneschy estate; the house was built for Rudolf Baumann and Anna Baumann-Kienast. Since 1978 it has belonged to the municipality of Stäfa, and the restored rooms are rented for events and cultural and leisure activities. In January 2010 the Stiftung Kinder- und Jugendmuseum submitted a concept to the municipal council to use the villa as a meeting place for residents, businesses and organisations of Stäfa and the surrounding area.

The building sits along a main road with regular public transit service to Stäfa, making it easy to reach by bus or train. Visit during daylight hours when the exterior details are clearly visible and the lakeside area is most active.

In 1952, Stäfa residents formed a cooperative specifically to buy the villa and block its sale to outsiders, keeping the property in local hands. The park around the house later became a public bathing area on Lake Zürich. The rooms, returned to their original state, are rented out for events.