For more than three decades, the legendary entertainer Peter Alexander lived in his private villa in Döbling. Built in 1932 at Paul-Ehrlich-Gasse 8, the artist referred to the villa throughout his life as his “little Schönbrunn.” After his death on February 12, 2011, however, the property—set on a 1,500-square-meter lot—stood vacant and uninhabited for years.
In October 2015, an auction with a starting price of 4 million euros initially failed, before the property was sold to an investor shortly thereafter. On June 18, 2018, the excavators finally arrived and completely demolished the striking building within a few days. This demolition took place exactly two weeks before July 1, 2018, when a new amendment to Vienna’s building code regarding the preservation of historic building ensembles went into effect.
During our on-site visit to Döbling, the transformed landscape of the quiet hillside near the Vienna vineyards became apparent. On the former site, a modern residential complex called Villetage Alexander has been built, featuring exclusive units ranging from 200 to 270 square meters of living space. Where the star once resided behind a high stone wall, expansive glass facades and terrace gardens now dominate the streetscape.
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A Lost Cultural Monument of Viennese Modernism
The historic building, listed in architectural guides as Haus Gerzabek, was designed in 1932 by the renowned architect Hans Adolf Vetter. The three-story building with its striking hipped roof was regarded by experts as an important example of Modernism, built for Cavalry Captain Emanuel Gerzabek. After the death of his wife, Hilde Neumayer, in 2003, the entertainer spent the last years of his life in complete seclusion in this house.
Today, there is no longer a commemorative plaque on the site to mark the long history of the Austrian show business icon on Paul-Ehrlich-Gasse. Anyone who takes tram line 38 to the Grinzing terminus and walks up the street will instead find themselves standing in front of a contemporary new building. With this demolition in 2018, Vienna lost a tangible testament to its postwar and cultural history, one that now exists only in archival photos.
📍 Location/Address: Paul-Ehrlich-Gasse 8, 1190 Vienna
⏰ Hours/Date: Private property (exterior view from the street only)
💶 Admission/Cost: Free (viewing from public street)
