It was built in 1839 by Gottfried Semper for the banker Martin Wilhelm Oppenheim [de] (1781–1863) and was a model for villa construction in Dresden for many decades.

Martin Oppenheim died from a stroke at Villa Rosa on October 10, 1863, at the age of 83.

[5] The villa burned down during the air raids on Dresden in World War II and was demolished in 1955.

A bust of the architect Semper is in front of the school and a plaque on the Elbe river side of the garden are reminiscent of the villa.

Most recently, Villa Rosa had the address Löwenstraße 2a, last owner was the city of Dresden.