"The Bauhaus before the Bauhaus" Finally the Behrensbau is open to everyone

Düsseldorf, 24 May 2023

"The Bauhaus before the Bauhaus"

Prof. Heinrich Theodor Grütter.

Historically significant exhibition 110 Years of the Behrens Building. Architecture and History.

Düsseldorf has a building that is unique in the world, for Peter Behren's office was where Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier and Hans Walter Gropius worked together at times. Initially, the Behrens Building was the headquarters of the Mannesmann group board, once the largest employer in Düsseldorf.

©Axel Thunker

Düsseldorf, 24 May 2023: The Behrensbau is unique in the world. It is named after its architect Peter Behrens, a universal genius in whose office Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier and Hans Walter Gropius worked at times. The hall on the first floor of the Behrensbau was packed last night, so that most of the guests did not have a seat and then flocked to the exhibition. It is probably one of the most beautiful exhibitions in NRW and the second overall after last year's jubilee exhibition on the 75th anniversary of the founding of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Democracy would be united in the Behrensbau

André Kuper, President of the State Parliament of NRW, whose budget finances the Foundation and the Behrensbau, also attended the opening. Tuesday was a significant day for him in many respects, because 74 years ago on that day, the German Grundgesetz was passed, but it was also the 30th anniversary of the attacks in Solingen. Democracy would be united in the Behrensbau and he hopes that the people of NRW will find themselves in this museum.

In December 2019, the state parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia had passed a law to establish a foundation "House of History North Rhine-Westphalia". The purpose of the foundation would be to present the history of the state, its past, origins and development. The Behrensbau had been chosen because of its historical significance, but also because it was located close to the Landtag.

André Kuper and Professor Hand Walter Hütter ©CM

On show at 110 Behrensbau ©CM

The building: "The Bauhaus before the Bauhaus"

The Behrensbau is not only unique because of its architecture, but it also symbolises the economic and political history of North Rhine-Westphalia. Its façade appears monumental, almost cold, but is humanised by its turbulent history. It also housed many refugees who came to Düsseldorf in 2015. A graffiti picture drawn by the residents now also hangs in the exhibition.

Initially, the Behrensbau was the headquarters of the Mannesmann corporate board, once the largest employer in Düsseldorf. A bicycle from the early years symbolises the global significance of the corporation, namely the invention of the seamless tube.

The exhibition also contains historical photos of the Mannesmann trial, including the Victory photo of the then Deutsche Bank boss Josef Ackermann.

Aversion to everything ornamental and superfluous

Peter Behrens is considered the most important designer of the early 20th century. He recognised the social significance of industry and tried to bring art and technology together. Behrens could also be considered the inventor of corporate design, as he shaped the appearance of AEG from 1907 to 1914.

The laughing coffee pot and the kiss

The inscription on the Reichstag was also designed by Peter Behrens. He also designed clothes, furniture, cutlery and posters, mostly in Art Nouveau style. For the exhibition, the curators have brought together beautiful Art Nouveau objects from all over the world. The original coffee service with the laughing coffee pot, which Peter Behrens designed for Kaiser Kaffee, is a milestone in design history. And of course the world-famous iconic painting "The Kiss", which Peter Behrens designed in 1898. Unfortunately, however, it is only a copy, because the original, a woodcut, is in the MoMa in New York.

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The exhibition 110 Years of Behrensbau. Architecture and History in the Behrensbau on Mannesmannufer in Düsseldorf can be seen from 24 May to 5 November 2023.

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On display: "The Kiss", Peter Behrens 1898

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