Lange and Esters houses, Modernist residential complex in Krefeld, Germany.
Lange and Esters houses form a residential complex of two adjacent brick buildings with large windows, geometric forms, and steel beams that link interior spaces to landscaped garden areas. The interiors preserve original architectural elements such as custom door handles, window mechanisms, lighting fixtures, and built-in display cabinets.
Architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed these residences between 1927 and 1930 for textile manufacturers Hermann Lange and Josef Esters. They represent early examples of modern architecture and shaped Krefeld's architectural history.
Both houses now function as exhibition spaces for contemporary art within the Kunstmuseen Krefeld. Visitors can observe how artworks are displayed within the original architectural framework and how modern exhibitions interact with the historical interior.
Both houses are now accessible as museums and display their original features from the design period. Walking slowly through the rooms helps visitors fully appreciate the thoughtful details and the relationship between interior and garden spaces.
Dark baked-brick exterior walls create a monolithic appearance while internal steel beams allow maximum window openings. This contrast between the solid outer shell and open interior spaces makes the sense of spatial openness particularly tangible.
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