Frankfurt is unique city worldwide. One of the most important financial centers worldwide and the biggest in Europe, definitely has the power to offer its inhabitants and visitors a very special experience. And truth is that it’s city is full of contrast and beauty. Founded by the Roman empire, the city has evolved throughout centuries and has inherited all these differences. In fact, you can walk along medieval buildings or visit the highest rooftops of the newest skyscraper the city has within its limits. Furthermore, you will have difficulty finding a more diverse skyline in Europe. All this history and intermingle of cultures, as well as its centric location in Europe, has made of Frankfurt a culturally diverse city that has enriched it and now shares its very own cultural wisdom with anyone who cares to visit one of dozens of museums. However we know that when traveling, there is little time for museums if you want to see it all. That is why we have narrowed down the list of museum to 6! Our 6 favorite museums of architecture, art and design.
1. Städel Museum.
Not visiting the Städel Museum would be like going to Paris and not visiting the Louvre. Founded in 1815, is one of the oldest art museums in Germany and probably in Europe as well. It covers a range of 700 years of art in all its mediums and the exhibits always offer a point of view that goes beyond the obvious. We know there are people who would not visit any of these museums and we are pretty sure the following museums in the list are going to catch your attention.
2. Deutsches ArchitekturMuseum (DAM)
As architects we have been taught that architecture has to be experienced, and therefore we are travelers per se. However, this architecture museums could make this belief falter. Their permanent exhibit, was usually is less interesting and more boring, is of great quality: it goes through the settlements of our history. The temporary exhibit depends on when you go, they are currently running an exhibit about great German Architecture.
MMK
3. MMK Museum für Moderne Kunst
When designing an art museum, all architects are aware that you can go two different, and almost opposite, ways. You can do a white box that will become a neutral background for the works of art; or you can go an design a work of art yourself. Well, this buildings is considered to be a work of art itself. Almost everybody who visits it fall in love with the construction rather than the exhibited works, which is why we have included the MMK as one of our must-see museums in Frankfurt am Main.
4. Weltkulturen Museum
A centric location and a wealthy city always attracts people from all over the world. This phenomenon happens in most European capital cities but, some are specially characteristic of this intermingling quality. Frankfurt meets those requirements and also exceeds them by its varied history. Many cultures have inhabited the geographic area of Frankfurt and, therefore, have left a cultural inheritance that the Weltkulturen Museum shares with those willing to visit.
Must museums focused on the worldwide cultures tend to fail. This one is still on its feet, why will that be?
5. Frankfurt KunstVerein
If you are looking for young artist and their contemporary art, you have found the right museum. This museum is very active when it come to events and also collaborations with foreign museum. Also, it’s one of the main Frankfurt museums, along with the Städel Museum and the MMK. What we find most interesting, other than the art that is exhibited in its inside, is the contrast between the main building, the Steinernes Haus from 1400′s, a classical structure, and the most ravishingly modern art in within its walls.
6. Portikus
Not exactly a museum but an exhibition hall, it’s name has an explanation that has been left orphan. First, this gallery was located in the project that Frankfurt-based architects Marie-Theres Deutsch and Klaus Dreißigacker built around the only portico left of the bombed Stadtbibliothek (public library) from 1825. Unfortunately in 2003 the library was restored and the exhibition gallery moved to their current location. As the KunstVerein, they exhibit modern art from both well·known artists and young international artists. However, it has the benefits of an independent institutions, and that is that they have a more flexible, and sometimes risky, program.
Portikus