HEINRICH METZENDORF. Darmstadt construction culture beyond the Mathildenhöhe

October 16 to December 18, 2016

Heinrich Metzendorf is one of the leading architects of the time around 1900. Even today, his villa buildings on the Hessian Bergstraße, built in a country style inspired by English architecture and local building tradition, shape the appearance of this region. But also the grand ducal residence city of Darmstadt and the artist colony on the Mathildenhöhe are constant reference points of his vita. He carries out various assignments for the industrialist family Merck, such as the »Haus Haardteck« on Herdweg or the renovation of Engel-Apotheke am Luisenplatz. Metzendorf was appointed honorary professor in 1901 by the art-loving Grand Duke Ernst-Ludwig.

On October 4, the birthday of the architect, born in 1866, is celebrated for the 150th time. The Kunstforum der TU Darmstadt takes this opportunity to dedicate an exhibition to Heinrich Metzendorf, which illuminates his work in Darmstadt in the context of Art Nouveau and life reform. To this end, over 40 original drawings and plans from the estate of the architect will be shown and supplemented with other original objects and historical photographs.

The exhibition takes place from October 16 until December 18, 2016, in the exhibition hall of the Kunstforum der TU Darmstadt in the old main building of the TU Darmstadt and is accompanied by a lecture series. Opening hours are Wednesday to Sunday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m..

An accompanying publication appears.

Sa., 2016/10/16, 11 a.m.

Exhibition opening with keynote speaker Rainer Metzendorf and the curators of the exhibition Dominic E. Delarue and Thomas Kaffenberger.

Th., 2016/10/20, 6 p.m.

Lecture by Dieter Schott: “Darmstadt networked – the residence city as Technopolis, 1888 – 1914”.

Th., 2016/11/03, 6 p.m.

Public short tour with Julia Reichelt (Curator Kunstforum of the TU Darmstadt).

Th., 2016/11/10, 6 p.m.

Lecture by Meinrad von Engelberg: “Room for Reformation? The sacred space between confessionalization and modernity ”.

Th., 2016/11/17, 6 p.m.

Lecture by Regina Stephan: “'All major and minor construction issues ran through my hands'” Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig of Hesse-Darmstadt and his architects.

Th, 2016/12/08, 6 p.m.

Public short tour with Julia Reichelt (Curator Kunstforum der TU Darmstadt).