Villa Gauhe, Villa in Eitorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Villa Gauhe is a villa in Eitorf built in 1878 for the manufacturer Julius Gauhe, the largest private building in the municipality. Its sandstone arches and greywacke rubble foundations come from local quarries, while the upper floors mix timber framing with red brick; slate surfaces and carved woodwork cover the facade. The ground-floor plan lists a carriage house, servants' rooms, laundry, ironing and sewing rooms, a pantry, a dumbwaiter and a billiards room with veranda.

The building was constructed in 1878 by factory owner Julius Gauhe during a period of industrial prosperity. After standing vacant for many years and facing possible demolition, the structure was preserved and repurposed in 1982 as a residential care home, giving it renewed social purpose.

Villa Gauhe carries the name of its original owner, a factory proprietor, and stands as a visible marker of Eitorf's past in the town's landscape. Local residents connect the building to the social and economic influence the family once held, viewing it as a reminder of the town's earlier social life and prosperity.

Villa Gauhe is not open to the public; it has housed a CBT residential home for people with intellectual disabilities since 1982, run by JOVITA Rheinland gGmbH since 1 January 2018. Visitors can view the exterior from the street and the remaining park area, where some large trees and ornamental shrubs survive. The grounds are private, so keep to public paths and avoid disturbing residents.

After being rescued from demolition, the structure now houses a residential care facility for adults with disabilities, giving this historic building a second life with genuine social purpose. This transformation demonstrates how older structures find new meaning when adapted for contemporary community needs.