History
- from private home to members' club
Today Villa Pauli is one of the most exclusive members' clubs in northern Europe. At its inception 100 years ago it was one of northern Europe's most sumptuous private residences. The villa, designed by Ragnar Östberg (who also designed Stockholm City Hall) was richly decorated with works by the painter Georg Pauli and sculptor Carl Eldh.
The house was commissioned by Anna and Albert Pauli, (Georg's half brother). Anna Pauli (nee Smitt) inherited a fortune from her father Johan Wilhelm Smitt who at his death was considered to be the richest man in Sweden. During the 1850's amassed a fortune buying land in South America and went on to increase it further by aquiring large tracts of Kungsholmen for development, founding St Erik's brewery and financing Alfred Nobel's nitro-glycerine factory which he chaired from 1894 until his death in 1904. Smitt contributed significant amounts to the founding of Stockholm Högskola, later to become Stockholm University and his portrait hangs outside the principal's office to this day.
Villa Pauli remained a private house until 1968 when it passed to the Order of St Birgitta and became a convent. In 1985 it was acquired by property magnate, Birger Gustavsson, one of Sweden's wealthiest men of his day. He spent 90 million kronor on a thorough cultural restoration and renovation. Gustavsson's plan was to use the villa as a private member's club, adding a restaurant kitchen, wine cellar, meeting rooms, hotel rooms and an apartment, entertaining salons, bar, sauna, gym, tennis court, jetty for large boats, handicap facilities.
With its central location in Djursholm, its matchless view over Askrikefjärden and its first-rate kitchen, Villa Pauli has become something of a legend amongst meeting places for prominent men and women from the worlds of politics, finance and industry. Its proximity to the beautiful Djursholm Chapel also makes it a first choice venue for many famous society weddings.
The beautiful reception rooms, champagne tastings at New Year, appearances by famous artists, film premieres, fashion shows, the night club Velvet, dinners for famous people such as the royal family, Henry Kissinger, Al Gore, and Pope John Paul have leant a glamorous sheen to .Villa Pauli which glitters now as strongly as it ever did 100 years ago.
Today Villa Pauli is an exclusive meeting place for paying private and corporate members. It is run as a family owned business and is a popular place of work. All of us here are proud of our place within the Villa Pauli family and its associations with high quality and a happy workplace. Our only aim when receiving members and their guests is to deliver a flawless experience.