Haus Washington (Washington House)

The Washington House at Rosenbergstrasse 20-22 served as the Iklé family's business headquarters and symbolizes their internationally oriented business activities. In the second half of the 19th century, the Iklé family was one of the most important textile families in the region.

History: Leopold Iklé (1838-1922), son of a Jewish merchant family in Hamburg, settled in St.Gallen in 1861 after previous trading contacts. Here he was involved in leading merchant and industrial committees. As a businessman and cosmopolitan, aesthete and manufacturer, he devoted his passion to embroidery and the development of new manufacturing techniques. Together with his brother Adolf (1852-1923), he managed Iklé-Frères AG, one of the leading companies in embroidery production and export. In 1923, the renowned textile company Stoffel moved into the Washington House and bought the building in the same year. In 1986, the building was transferred to Helvetia Swiss Fire Insurance Company. The intricacies of the fabrics required not only commercial intuition and knowledge, but also protective measures to reduce the risks of ever-increasing transport volumes to a commercially acceptable level.

Architecture: The neo-baroque Vienna City Palace Washington is made of white limestone and extends over four storeys. The rectangular side wings surround an inner courtyard. The main floor is made of granite, while the upper three floors are clad in white limestone and richly decorated. The central entrance gate leads into a courtyard. Current use: Following extensive renovation, the University of St.Gallen (HSG) has moved into the building. Washington House offers around 6,000 square meters of space for classrooms and offices.