Landhaus P. Godeffroy

Landhaus P. Godeffroy is a white villa on Elbchaussee with ionic column portals on both street and river sides, a low copper-covered hip roof, and a sandstone base. The structure displays neoclassical architectural features in their original, well-preserved form.

Architect Christian Frederick Hansen designed this residence between 1790 and 1792 for merchant Peter Godeffroy using consistent neoclassical elements. Shipowner John T. Essberger carried out extensive restoration work during the 1930s.

The rooms contain plaster casts of classical sculptures, busts, and vases, including a Venus figure recovered from an Elbe shipwreck. These artworks shape the interior spaces and reflect the collecting interests of past inhabitants.

The villa remains in private ownership by the Rantzau family, descendants of John T. Essberger, and is not regularly open to visitors. You can view it from outside and enjoy good views of the facade from Elbchaussee.

Louis Jacob created an English landscape garden around the house with greenhouses and an orangery that formed a unified design with the neoclassical architecture. This garden layout was central to the original concept rather than simply added later.