What if everyday objects whispered stories? Here at the Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln, they do. This museum is not just a display of pretty things. It is a journey through time told through furniture, jewelry, and household items.
The Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln, or MAKK, traces its roots back to 1888. Cologne wanted a place to showcase applied arts. The initial collection came from Ferdinand Franz Wallraf and Matthias Joseph de Noël. These scholars left behind an incredible legacy. Their collections were expanded with endowments.
MAKK’s first home was a Neo-Gothic building. Sadly, bombs destroyed it in 1943. The collection survived. Since 1989, the museum has been located in the former Wallraf-Richartz and Ludwig Museums. Rudolf Schwarz and Josef Bernhard designed this building.
The Schwarz-Bernhard building is known for its plain red-brick exterior. It stands where a former monastery once stood. You can still see the monastery’s shape in the ground plan. The inner courtyard is square. The Minoritenkirche, a late-Gothic church, still stands on the south side. The north side features a glazed inner courtyard wall. It acts like a shop window for the Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln.
Inside, the museum boasts over 100,000 items. These span European applied art from the 10th century to today. Furniture, carpets, small sculptures, and dining utensils fill the space. Luxury items and decorative objects add to the collection. The textile collection appears in special exhibitions to preserve it.
MAKK is famous for its modern design collection. The Vitra Design Museum created an exhibition in 2008. It showcases 20th-century design across two floors. Furniture, lamps, telephones, and radios are all on display. Ray Eames, Dieter Rams, and Frank Lloyd Wright are some designers featured. Visual artworks accompany these designs. Wassily Kandinsky and Piet Mondrian are among the artists shown. This layout highlights the historical link between art and design.
Some highlights include Tilman Riemenschneider’s “Woman of the Apocalypse”. There is also a tapestry named “Allegory of the Region of Africa.” A writing cabinet from David Roentgen’s workshop is another treasure. Gerrit Rietveld’s “Rood-blauwe Stoel” is a must-see. Don’t miss Piet Mondrian’s “Composition III”. Marcel Breuer’s “Liege” is a design icon. Ettore Sottsass’s “Carlton” shelf represents the Memphis movement. Naoto Fukasawa’s CD player embodies modern simplicity.
The Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln is more than just a building. It is a journey through art history. Everyday objects tell extraordinary stories. Take a moment to appreciate the beauty and design around you. Who knows what stories these objects will whisper to you?