
The historic Villa Beer, located in Vienna’s 13th district, is currently undergoing a meticulous renovation and is appealing for original fittings from the 1930s to help restore its original condition.
The 650-square-metre villa, a masterpiece of Austrian modernism designed by pioneer Josef Frank between 1929 and 1930, has been under heritage protection since 1987.
In the future, it will be open to visitors.
The restoration team is particularly keen to source items such as washbasins and curtain hooks, though they are not in search of furniture. “It’s about adding what was connected to the house or what the architect had planned,” the Villa Beer team told ORF.
The appeal extends to anyone who might possess such fittings or comes across them during the demolition of other 1930s buildings.
“We are really happy about anything,” said the Villa Beer team. “It’s better to ask too much than too little.”
In addition to these items, the team is on the lookout for bathroom tiles, enamelled towel rails, and lamps to aid in the villa’s reconstruction. They are also searching for any photographs depicting the villa’s interior or exterior, as only a few were published shortly after the villa’s completion.
Particularly challenging to locate is leg glass, a rare and fragile material that gains its milky appearance from the addition of bone ash. This unique material was extensively used throughout the villa to cover light switches, sockets, and doorbells, as well as for door fittings.
Over the years, the villa was divided into five residential units, leading to numerous alterations.
“Of course, it’s detective work to find out where things were because we don’t have enough photos,” the Villa Beer team added.
The restoration effort is a significant undertaking, requiring both time and the support of those who may hold pieces of the villa’s storied past.