The Werkbundarchiv – Museum der Dinge is a museum of modernity – presenting the design history of industrially manufactured mass products of the 20th and 21st centuries. What defines the quality of things – their form, their durability, the sensible use of resources, the production conditions, or their price? How should we build houses to prevent them from making us sick and allow all of us to live well?
In the early 20th century, a group of artists, architects, industrialists and politicians asked themselves similar questions. In 1907, they founded the Deutscher Werkbund, striving for modern design and good quality for industrially manufactured products, architecture and the living environment. Early guiding principles included truth to material, rationalism, functionality and sustainability.
The work of the Werkbund shapes design and architecture to this day. The Werkbundarchiv – Museum der Dinge stores globally unique documents on the Deutscher Werkbund, as well as an extensive collection of objects that are important to the history of design and everyday culture. The document archive and its connected library can be used by appointment.
The Werkbundarchiv – Museum der Dinge interprets and reflects upon the ideas and aims of the Werkbund from a contemporary perspective. In addition to the permanent exhibition conceived as an Open Storage, it presents special exhibitions, as well as educational and event programmes, such as guided tours, workshops and talks.
It is a place for everyone wishing to critically engage with design, past and present.