This handy and informative book describes the history and function of the house from a residence with artistic furnishings and an adjoining farming estate to today's centre for internationally famed exhibitions and cultural events. The property Hügel 1 in the Essen borough of Bredeney is listed in the estate register of the city of Essen as a single-family house. However, with its 269 rooms and 8,100 m² usable floor space, beautifully situated within 28 ha of park overlooking Lake Baldeney, the Villa is far more than merely the residence of an industrial magnate – it is a symbol of German industrialization. The Villa Hügel, erected between 1870 and 1873 by Alfred Krupp, was intended as a residence and refuge for Krupp and his family. It was also to provide a suitable stately frame for representation, receptions and festivities. Emperors and Kings, business men from all over the world, politicians and heads of state of many nations visited the Villa Hügel. This book describes the history and function of the house from a residence with artistic furnishings and an adjoining farming estate to today's centre for internationally famed exhibitions and cultural events organised by the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach-Stiftung.

Translated by: Kerstin Hall