The Zollverein Industrial Complex is the city's most famous landmark. For decades, the coal mine (current form mainly from 1932, closed in 1986) and the coking plant (closed in 1993) ranked among the largest of their kinds in Europe. Shaft XII, built in Bauhaus style, with its characteristic...
“To design is to plan and to organize, to order, to relate and to control. In short it embraces all means of opposing disorder and accident. Therefore it signifies a human need and qualifies man’s thinking and doing.”
Josef Albers
“For design is about the making of things: things that are memorable and have presence in the world of the mind. It makes demands upon our ability both to consolidate information as knowledge and to deploy it imaginatively to creative purpose in the pursuit of fresh information.”
Krome Barratt
“To design is much more than simply to assemble, to order, or even to edit; it is to add value and meaning, to illuminate, to simplify, to clarify, to modify, to dignify, to dramatize, to persuade, and perhaps even to amuse. To design is to transform prose into poetry.”
Paul Rand
“The essential function of our profession [design] in our society is to enhance and cultivate communications toward an easier understanding of ideas and complex problems, in the shortest possible time for higher visual and auditory retention of data.”
Will Burtin
Visits and Discoveries
Berlin: Bauhaus Archiv
We were happy to have the opportunity to meet with two knowledable archivist/librarians ( Berthold Eberhard, Bibliothekar and Wencke Clausnitzer-Paschold, Archivarian)who explained the status of the documentation of the collection. The digitized parts of their catalog are included in a larger...
Bottrop: Josef Albers Museum
We had heard about this museum for years, and looked forward to seeing an exhibtion of both paintings and design, but alas, on the day of our visit the majority of the musume space was taken up with other works. Still, it was an interesting experience. Here is a bit of background:
The...
Berlin: Museum der Dinge (Museum of Things)
Our Folkwang guide told us not to miss this museum, and she was right! An incredible documentaion of the apt attention which was paid to Design in 20th C Germany. Centered on the Deutcher Werkbund,
Since summer 2007...
Berlin: Hotel Q
We wouldn't ordinarily include a hotel in our Find Design inventory, but the Hotel Q in Berlin exceeded expectations.It provided a wonderful visual retreat after a busy day, as well as custom dining on demand. A "Design Hotel" it was also staffed by helpful and generous people.
Berlin: Modulor Planet
In case you need design supplies in Berlin: Visited Modulor Planet – a materials supply shop. Amazing place which sells everything from office supplies to every kind of model making material, paper, etc. On Moritzplatz.
Berlin: Mies van der Rohe Haus
This visit was one of the hightlights of the trip.Johan claims it is the most beautiful brick buidling he has ever seen.
The Mies van der Rohe Haus (Landhaus Lemke, 1932/33) is a gem of classical modernism. With this house, built for printing works owner Karl Lemke, Ludwig Mies van...
Dessau: Bauhaus
We saw a great Marcel Breuer exhibtion, and took the tour of the MasterHouses, but the most exciting part of this visit was our stay in the original Bauhaus student accomodations:
"Spend the night like the Bauhaus students – since their general renovation and refurbishment, the studio...
Dessau: Bauhaus Archiv Dessau
The Archiv at Dessau is located in the renovated brewery about 500 meters from the Bauhuas central building. The Archives were not open on the day we visited, but we got info on the archivist. She is Fau Ziegner, email ziegner@bauhaus-dessau.de. ...
Leipzig: BMW Factory
Zaha Hadid designed the new BMW plant in Leipzig. It brings a new visual perspective to factory work and organization, as described on their website:
"Is it possible that a certain kind of architecture can positively influence teamwork and productivity within a plant? The Central...