Kragstuhlmuseum, museum in Germany
The Kragstuhlmuseum in Lauenförde is a museum dedicated to the history of the cantilever chair and modern furniture design, displaying about one thousand chair versions and models. The building was designed by British architect Peter Smithson and features three exhibition rooms with abundant natural light from windows and distinctive white and red painted surfaces.
The museum was founded in 1979 and is operated privately by Daniela Drescher as a non-governmental institution. The collection focuses on the cantilever chair design development from the mid-20th century onwards, featuring work by renowned designers such as Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer, and houses the Jean-Prouvé Archive with original components and models from a French engineer.
The museum is named after the Kragstuhl chair, a design that became central to how people understood modern furniture through its distinctive cantilever construction without back legs. Visitors today can see how this piece shaped everyday seating habits and remains meaningful to designers and craft traditions across Europe.
The museum is located in a quiet part of Lauenförde with nearby parking and good access to public transport, making it convenient to visit. After touring the museum, you can walk through the landscaped park with paths and small gardens laid out since 1984 or relax in nearby cafes and shops in the town area.
A striking red steel tower standing 50 feet (15 meters) high marks the entrance to the museum and serves as its signature landmark. Additionally, a small railway line runs diagonally across the museum grounds connecting indoor and outdoor spaces, symbolically reflecting the industrial roots of furniture manufacturing.
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