History of the House

Stately home in a prime area

In the early 20th century, construction fever swept through Zurich. Heinrich Hatt, married to Marie Haller, founded a construction company in 1903 that rapidly prospered. His innovative spirit (as possibly the first master builder in Zurich to purchase a truck, a concrete mixer and a travelling crane) coupled with his sound performance meant that the three ‘H’ of the company logo were soon to be seen on numerous sites throughout the city. Today, many buildings in Zurich and throughout Switzerland bear witness to Heinrich Hatt Haller's success in structural and civil engineering.

Legacy with a condition

In 1927, the Hatt-​Haller family moved from the city centre to the newly built detached house on Freudenbergstrasse. When Heinrich Hatt died in 1940 at the age of 62, the villa remained in family ownership until it was bequeathed to ETH Zurich in 2003 by the daughter-​in-law, Lou Hatt-​Bucher. The legacy came with the condition that the villa remain in use. The property, comprising the main building, the gardener’s house, garage and terraced garden, is listed in the City of Zurich register of protected art and cultural-​historical objects.

Encounters in a historical setting

As the villa is a protected property, a sensitive and skilled approach to renovation was called for. Work was completed in spring 2008, and Villa Hatt now radiates its former splendour. Today it may be used for business purposes by those closely associated with ETH Zurich – primarily members of the Executive Board, the ETH Foundation and the ETH Board, who either book directly or for guests or companies from ETH’s network of contacts. ETH professors, heads of departments and infrastructure managers may also use the villa. In this way, ETH Zurich fulfils the requirements of the founding family in ensuring that the venerable building bustles with life.