Villa Beer

Villa Beer on Wenzgasse in Vienna's 13th district, Hietzing, is a four-story building designed by the architects Josef Frank and Oskar Wlach and built between 1929 and 1930. Originally built for Julius and Margarete Beer, art-loving representatives of liberal Judaism, the house, with roughly 8,600 square feet of living space, served above all as a venue for social gatherings and musical evenings. The family lived in the villa only briefly, however: after Julius Beer left his position in the company's management in 1932, financial difficulties led them to rent it out. Over the years the owner changed several times until the house passed to a textile manufacturer in 1941. Today the building is regarded as an important example of modern architecture in Vienna and has been a protected landmark since 1987.

Architectural historians praise the villa as a masterpiece that stands alongside other icons of modernism such as Villa Tugendhat and Villa Savoye. Josef Frank did not design the building as a rigid box but as a flexible space meant to give its residents the freedom to express themselves. Varying ceiling heights, floor levels, and numerous terraces create a close connection between interior and exterior. The floor plan is more reminiscent of an English country house and offers a variety of views into the garden, while the facades appear freely composed. This combination of strict geometric forms and free use of space makes the house an outstanding example of Viennese domestic culture in the interwar period.

Following a comprehensive renovation, coordinated with the Federal Monuments Authority and funded by the City of Vienna, Villa Beer is now open to the public. The Villa Beer Foundation, which acquired the building in 2021, aims to open the house as a museum and preserve it. Since March 2026, you can visit the villa on organized guided tours, as well as on weekends with timed-entry tickets. This brings the architectural and cultural history of the house to a broad audience, who can experience the distinctive spatial qualities and historical significance of this modern residence.