Villa Malta, Art Nouveau villa in Rodenkirchen, Germany.
Villa Malta is a castle-like Art Nouveau villa at Hauptstraße 11 in Rodenkirchen, built in 1904/05. Its tower, on the Rhine side, is partly modelled on the belfry of the Cloth Hall in Ypres, a nod to the Belgian origin of the builder's wife. The upper-floor gallery has Doric columns and metopes after Greek temples.
Built in 1904/05 as Villa Antonia for Eduard Steisel, mayor of Rondorf, to designs by the Schauppmeyer brothers, it was financed largely by his Belgian wife Angonia. In 1919 manufacturer Heinrich Rodenkirchen bought it; after World War II it was renamed Villa Maria. The Order of Malta acquired it in 1971 and gave it its present name; since 1986 it has been divided into condominiums and was listed as a monument on 22 October 1986.
The interior features Greek-style columns and decorative panels with classical patterns on the upper gallery. These elements show how affluent homeowners around 1900 expressed their education and taste through ancient design.
The building was converted into apartments in 1986 and is now privately owned, though visible from the outside. Located right at the riverbank, it is easily accessible when following paths along the Rhine.
Large letters spelling Villa Malta are clearly visible on the side of the tower facing the Rhine. This signage connects the building's name with the river itself and serves as a landmark for people passing by.
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