Research

During our research into the structural foundation of our modular furniture system, we came across the ´´Journal des Luxus und der Moden´, a design-focused magazine from the Goethe era. Since Goethe is considered a key representative of his time, we found it particularly interesting to examine typical furniture pieces from that period and to identify what characterized their design. We identified three main aspects:

• A strong emphasis on functionality Furniture was typically very reduced in form, with clearly legible functions.

• Combination of functions So-called “Verwandlungsmöbel”, combined multiple uses from different furniture categories in one piece to increase efficiency especially in work related contexts.

• Intricate mechanical details Many furniture pieces featured sophisticated mechanical elements that reflected the period’s fascination with mechanics, technology..

These three principles guided our design process and served as a conceptual foundation.

research and concept - seating module

The seating module consists of stretched cotton panels printed with a drawing by Goethe from his Italian Journey in 1787. Die to the woven structure, the drawing forms a delicate pattern.the two different heights of the seat’s edges stretch the fabric into a convex shape, inviting visitors to sit down. Images of Goethe era museums from the nineteenth century show halls filled with conversation chairs, ottomans and heavy oak benches. It is often only through lingering that a space fully reveals its effect: atmosphere, mood, and design details become more perceptible. For visitors to the Goethe National Museum, this becomes especially tangible, One wants to empathise -with Goethe himself or with one of his quests at the tine. Yet without sufficient seating, exhibitions prevent us fron doing either.

research and concept - staircase module

The staircase module is a reference to the stairs in the Goethe House, which Goethe had custom-built into his home after his journey to Italy. It reflects architectural elements from Italian building history, which Goethe studied and admired during his travels. The function of the module can be understood as a display for informational materials and/or reading resources, inviting visitors to engage with them and explore the themes of the exhibition in greater depth.

research and concept - box module

The box module points to another subtle feature in Goethe's residence. In his study, he had a hole drille into a window shutter to conduct light experiments witt prisms. Several of these features are hidden throughout the house. Unfortunately, these details remain invisible in the current exhibition, even though they reveal much about Goethe's world and character and contribute to the charm of the house. In this module, the observation of the perforated window shutter was used as a design element and combined with a Japanese joinery technique to develop a sliding mechanism.

research and concept - storage module

The storage module is a direct derivation of Goethe's collection of polished stones. Goethe himself archived and cataloged these stones in his residence. Their colors grain patterns, and contrasts were digitally translated into a relief and then cast in porcelain. The resulting tiles fit precisely into a wooden frame. They are intentionally not fixed but removable, inviting tactile engagement. It not only serves as a display but also enables layered storage. Positioned below familiar surfaces, it creates a sense of inserting and removing-opening up a new, intuitive space. Antwort

research and concept - drawer module

The drawer module references the filled mineral cabinets in Goethe's residence. He was an enthusiastic collector of minerals and rocks, which he catalogued and studied at home. This module plays plays with the contrast between interior and exterior in an ironic way-by using part of the contents as a drawer handle, it encourages visitors to open it, inviting them to explore the exhibition in a playful and interactive manner.