Since 1950, the building has served as the Federal President's official residence in Bonn.

In 1868, Leopold Koenig, father of the zoologist Alexander Koenig, purchased the newly-built villa. The building was enlarged considerably at his request and acquired its present form in 1878. Counsellor of Commerce Rudolf Hammerschmidt bought it in 1899.

The Federal Republic purchased the property in 1950 and converted it into the Federal President's official residence. The representational rooms are located on the groundfloor. The upper floor is used as a private flat.

The first occupant was Theodor Heuss, followed in Bonn by Heinrich Lübke, Gustav Heinemann, Walter Scheel and Karl Carstens. Richard von Weizsäcker shifted the first residence to Schloss Bellevue in Berlin in 1994.

Aloys Münch, doyen of the diplomatic corps on the New Year' s Reception in Villa Hammerschmidt, 1952