Henry van de Velde Museum Haus Schulenburg
The Belgian Neo-Impressionist painter, architect and art reformer Henry van de Velde was the founder of the School of Arts and Crafts in Weimar, the predecessor of the Bauhaus. In this role, he advised more than 20 craft businesses in Thuringia. In 1926, van de Velde founded L’ École de la Cambre, the “Belgian Bauhaus”, a school for architecture, fine and applied arts in Brussels, which he headed until 1936.
Haus Schulenburg in Gera is the last building he built in Germany and one of his masterpieces. Henry van de Velde built it between 1913 and 1914 as a residence for the family of the successful textile manufacturer, orchid grower and art collector Paul Schulenburg. Impressed by van de Velde’s dining room furniture, which Paul Schulenburg had already acquired in 1906, he commissioned the Belgian genius to build his house. Not only the exterior of the building and the surrounding grounds were designed by him, but also the entire interior, furniture, carpets, wallpaper, crockery and cutlery were designed by van de Velde. This total work of art was carefully restored between 1996 and 2017.
Today’s Museum of the House of Schulenburg houses the largest collection of van de Velde’s book art in Germany. Other carefully researched works of art by the Belgian architect are also on display. They reflect his widespread work. The exhibition is rounded off with art from the intellectual environment of the Bauhaus pioneer. A cabaret stage and rooms for VIP seminars and weddings allow the Gesamtkunstwerk to be used in a variety of ways.
The old spacious garage for Schulenburg’s cars now houses a cafeteria.
A large car park is just a few steps away.
The director of the museum is the owner, Dr Volker Kielstein
