Villa Espenlaub

Villa Espenlaub is a residential home in Barmen built between 1926 and 1927 following modern design principles. The building displays geometric forms and functional room layouts with preserved original features including color schemes and built-in storage elements.

The house was designed in 1926 for an attorney and emerged during the Weimar Republic as an example of new building concepts. The original owner left Germany in 1933, after which the structure passed to new residents and lived through various phases of German history.

The residence is named after an aviation pioneer who occupied it starting in 1939. The rooms reflect the daily life of its various occupants and show how the use of a modern home evolved throughout the 20th century.

The building is located at Rudolf-Ziersch-Straße 3 in Wuppertal's Barmen district. It is a listed heritage villa that can be viewed from outside; visitors should check in advance for interior access as conditions vary.

During the 1980s, two prominent museum directors shared the house as residents, marking an interesting chapter in its occupation history. This episode connects the private home to the city's art scene and cultural institutions.