The Grawitz Villa (Music School)

The villa was built in 1899. Today it houses the State Music School, but its history was not connected to the school from the very beginning. It was built for Szczecin city councilman Georg Grawitz, who came from a well-respected local family of industrialists. The building was designed by W. O. Zimmerman, a renowned local architect. The building consisted of a residential section and stables. The villa has an irregular architectural form and is built in an eclectic style, with predominant Gothic and German Renaissance elements. It also shows influences of picturesque architecture. Its numerous projections are particularly striking. A sundial is visible at the top of the front wall. Below, on a triangular projection, there is a cartouche featuring two mermaids supporting a sailing ship (a reference to the character of the city).  The building also features a loggia, and the entrance is located on the side wall, above which the villa’s construction date is inscribed. The building included, among other things, a dining room and a winter garden. The interior of the building is particularly interesting. It features a jade-decorated fireplace depicting lizards, winged women, and an allegorical volcano. Visitors are also impressed by the staircase and the wood paneling, both of which are preserved in perfect condition. The former dining room boasts an incredible wooden ceiling with rosette-shaped electric lamps that have been preserved and are still in use today. They are surrounded by acanthus leaves. In the 19th century and early 20th century, the dining room was held in high esteem among the residents, not only because meals were eaten there. It was believed that the spirit of morality and family ethics permeated the dining room. Today, the former dining room houses a small concert hall, which is also used as a classroom and lecture hall. Tours of the interior are permitted only with the consent of the music school’s administration.