Nuremberg is one of Germany's oldest cities, dating back to 1050, with traditional buildings that illustrate how it was in the past times. However, while you are sightseeing through the medieval city, you might stumble upon a striking curved-glass building that will catch your eye. This modern structure that blends in the ancient setting is the State Museum for Art and Design, which aside from being an excellent piece of architecture, it is the newest museum of the city, showcasing contemporary art and design. Drop by for a visit; it's definitely worth your time!
Stunning architecture
The 100-meter-long building with over 3,000 square meters of collections and exhibitions was designed by architect Volker Staab. Its spiral staircase can be observed from many spots in the town. It is a symbol that represents the museum. The museum is by the medieval city walls, but the architect did a fantastic work to merge the moderns structure with the existing older-looking buildings. The construction of the building was an initiative of the Bavarian government and took three years, from 1996-1999. The museum was officially opened in April 2000 as a 21st-century museum – a place for cultural experiences, education, inspiration, and debate.
The exhibits
The collections at the museum include over 1500 art pieces, whether its paintings, sculptures, and photography, from the year 1945 to this day. The exhibits essentially focus on Eastern European artists, international artists from the geometric abstraction movement and a large section dedicated to displaying concrete art. American-German painter Richard Lindner is one of the contemporary artists to admire in the museum. His paintings are unique and colorful, evoking an eroticism of some sort. He is known for his surrealist fantasy drawings and for illustrating for magazines like Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. In the section of the design, the State Museum collaborates with the International Design Museum of Munich. The collections you will find display the international design from this museum, known for containing the largest collection on the history of design in the world. These displays illustrate the development of the design that has witnessed from the post-war period to the present. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions of selected artists like the German KP Brehmer, whose art is also at the MOMA museum. Make sure you check their website to learn what's on during your stay in Nuremberg.
Good to know
The museum is closed on Mondays, but they open on Sundays with a discount price in the admission. Visit also the sculpture garden outside the city wall between the streets of Stentor and Frauentor – it was added in 2004. Nearby find the Handwerkerhof craft market and buy some traditional crafts or eat a rustic meal at one of the restaurants.
