Location: Western Germany
Documentation date: Summer of 2020
This villa was built in 1910 and has been abandoned since it burned out in 1944. It is located close to the border region between Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. A shimmer of concrete behind the dense trees and the locked front gate is the only sign of former life.
After climbing over fallen trees and wading through a sea of nettles the mystery gets revealed: overgrown, partly collapsed walls come into view.
The final state of decay. Entering – or even going up to the first floor of – this building is strongly advised against.
Soon the last standing walls and remaining part of the first floor will undoubtedly join the rest of the debris that is already decomposing on the ground. At least one upper floor has completely disintegrated, only a small piece of wall is proof of its former existence.
A small forest has grown on the remaining first floor, further proof of the sheer mass of bio matter that has to have accumulated over a long period of time, further pressing down the last remaining ceiling.
Further investigation revealed that the villa once comprised 370 square metres and a fire was the beginning of the end for this place in 1944, when the allied forces crossed the border into Germany. They allegedly looted and set fire to the building.
It was never repaired afterwards and the owners tried to sell it some 20 years ago, however its unknown wether a buyer was found since there are limitations on what can legally be built on this estate.
The local youth seems to enjoy this place and train their grafitti spraying techniques there, hopefully they will not be crushed by a collapsing wall one day.
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