On the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the first exhibition of the Darmstadt artists‘ colony on the Mathildenhöhe, the Mathildenhöhe Institute Darmstadt is dedicating the show "A Step Ahead" to the question of how design, architecture and art shape social developments: Then and now.
Four visionary building exhibitions between 1901 and 1914 gave the Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt its current appearance and led to its entry in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The historic Artists‘ Colony always saw design as a holistic concept for improving everyday life. This progressive approach continues to the present day and forms the starting point of the exhibition.
In four thematically structured halls,"A Step Ahead" takes a look at the four historic building exhibitions of 1901, 1904, 1908 and 1914. Original works of applied and fine art enter into a dialog with contemporary international positions in design and art. Each hall functions as a resonance chamber for central themes such as world concepts, community and individuality, identity and social issues as well as introspection and new beginnings.
Historical design approaches of the Artists‘ Colony are linked with current issues: new production methods, innovative materials, participatory processes and the use of artificial intelligence open up perspectives on future living environments. Walk-in installations, interactive architecture and changing exhibition structures invite the public to become part of this debate.
A particular focus is on the exhibition architecture: with the help of contemporary AI technologies, the first and last historical building exhibitions will be reconstructed in a colourful 3D visualization and integrated into the exhibition on a large scale. In this way, Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt can once again be experienced as a place of experimental spatial art.
"A Step Ahead" is integrated into the"World Design Capital 2026 Frankfurt-Rhine-Main" programme and ties in with Darmstadt‘s international significance as an early "capital of design". The exhibition sees itself as a bridge between cultural heritage and current social challenges and as an invitation to understand design as an active, responsible process that is always one step ahead of our time.
Curator: Dr. Philipp Gutbrod, Cultural Officer of the City of Science Darmstadt / Director Institut Mathildenhöhe
Nächste Termine
So.
7
Juni 2026
11:00 Uhr bis 31.01.2027 18:00 Uhr
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Weitere Tipps in der Nähe
"Weitere Tipps in der Nähe" überspringenca. 0,0 km entfernt
Olbrichweg, 64289 Darmstadt
Discover art and then indulge: Starting in October, there will be three new offerings centered around the exhibition “A Step Ahead – 125 Years of Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt” that combine a visit to the exhibition with culinary delights at the Café Restaurant Mathildenhöhe.
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ca. 0,0 km entfernt
Olbrichweg, 64287 Darmstadt
Die Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt ist ein Ensemble aus Hochzeitsturm, Ausstellungsgebäude, Museum Künstlerkolonie, Platanenhain und Künstlerhäusern. Sie wurde bereits im 19. Jahrhundert als Garten des großherzoglichen Hofes angelegt und war 14 Jahre lang, von 1901 bis 1914, eines der wichtigsten Zentren der modernen Kunst und Architektur in Europa und der Welt. Mit der Aufnahme in das UNESCO-Welterbe 2021 wird ihre weltweite Bedeutung als Wegbereiterin der Moderne unterstrichen.
ca. 0,0 km entfernt
Open during special exhibitions.
Olbrichweg, 64287 Darmstadt
The Exhibition Hall on the Mathildenhöhe, which opened in 1908 along with the Wedding Tower, is the venue for outstanding special exhibitions of international contemporary art as well as art and culture from around 1900.
ca. 0,0 km entfernt
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| Montag | geschlossen |
| Dienstag | 10:00 - 18:00 |
| Mittwoch | 10:00 - 18:00 |
| Donnerstag | 10:00 - 18:00 |
| Freitag | 10:00 - 18:00 |
| Samstag | 10:00 - 18:00 |
| Sonntag | 10:00 - 18:00 |
Evening events by arrangement.
Summer terrace - weather permitting - until 10 pm.
Olbrichweg 13, 64287 Darmstadt
The Mathildenhöhe Café Restaurant is located in the heart of the Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers a unique view of the plane tree grove, the Wedding Tower, the Russian Chapel, and the Lily Pond. The historic setting combines traditional architecture with modern cuisine.
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ca. 0,1 km entfernt
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| Montag | geschlossen |
| Dienstag | 11:00 - 18:00 |
| Mittwoch | 11:00 - 18:00 |
| Donnerstag | 11:00 - 18:00 |
| Freitag | 11:00 - 18:00 |
| Samstag | 11:00 - 18:00 |
| Sonntag | 11:00 - 18:00 |
Olbrichweg 13a, 64287 Darmstadt
ca. 0,1 km entfernt
jetzt geöffnet
| Wochentag | Öffnungszeiten |
|---|---|
| Montag | geschlossen |
| Dienstag | 11:00 - 18:00 |
| Mittwoch | 11:00 - 18:00 |
| Donnerstag | 11:00 - 18:00 |
| Freitag | 11:00 - 18:00 |
| Samstag | 11:00 - 18:00 |
| Sonntag | 11:00 - 18:00 |
Olbrichweg 13a, 64287 Darmstadt
As the central structure of the 1901 exhibition, Joseph Maria Olbrich designed the artists’ colony’s studio house at the highest point of the complex. The facade features a broad, well-proportioned building with clean lines and a richly ornamented, monumental portal. The Artists’ Colony Museum in the Ernst Ludwig House documents the history of the Darmstadt Artists’ Colony (1899–1914) on the Mathildenhöhe in Darmstadt, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021.
ca. 0,1 km entfernt
Olbrichweg 13, 64287 Darmstadt
ca. 0,1 km entfernt
jetzt geöffnet
| Wochentag | Öffnungszeiten |
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| Montag | 10:00 - 18:00 |
| Dienstag | 10:00 - 18:00 |
| Mittwoch | 10:00 - 18:00 |
| Donnerstag | 10:00 - 18:00 |
| Freitag | 10:00 - 19:00 |
| Samstag | 10:00 - 19:00 |
| Sonntag | 10:00 - 18:00 |
April - September
Monday - Thursday, 10:00 - 19:00
Friday - Sunday, 10:00 - 20:00
March & October
Sunday - Thursday, 10:00 - 18:00
Friday & Saturday, 10:00 - 19:00
November - February
Monday - Sunday, 11:00 - 17:00
Open on all public holidays.
Closed on 24.12. and 31.12.
Opening hours on wedding days: Please note that access to the wedding tower is restricted on wedding days. Please call +49 6151 / 701 90 87 to enquire about the exact opening hours on these days.
Olbrichweg 13, 64287 Darmstadt
The tower with its distinctive spire, which looks like the five fingers of a hand, was a gift from the city of Darmstadt for the wedding of Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig to Princess Eleonore von Solms-Hohensolms-Lich in 1905.
ca. 0,1 km entfernt
ca. 0,1 km entfernt
Olbrichweg 15, 64287 Darmstadt
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Alexandraweg 23, 64287 Darmstadt
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