A Step Ahead

On the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the first exhibition of the Darmstadt Artists’ Colony on the Mathildenhöhe, the Institut Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt presents A Step Ahead / Einen Schritt voraus, an exhibition that explores how design, architecture, and art shape social developments—then as now.

Four visionary exhibitions of architecture and design held between 1901 and 1914 shaped the present-day appearance of the Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt and ultimately led to its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The historic artists’ colony understood design as a holistic concept aimed at improving everyday life. This progressive approach continues to resonate today and forms the starting point of the exhibition.

Organized into four thematic halls, A Step Ahead / Einen Schritt voraus revisits the four historic exhibitions of 1901, 1904, 1908, and 1914. Original works of applied and fine art enter into dialogue with contemporary international positions in design and art. Each hall serves as a resonant space for key themes such as visions of the world, community and individuality, identity and social relations, as well as introspection and new beginnings.

Historical design approaches developed within the artists’ colony are linked to current questions: new modes of production, innovative materials, participatory processes, and the use of artificial intelligence open up perspectives on future ways of living. Walk-in installations, interactive architectures, and evolving exhibition structures invite visitors to become active participants in this exploration.

A special focus is placed on the exhibition architecture itself. Using contemporary AI technologies, the first and the last historic exhibitions are reconstructed in colored 3D visualizations and integrated into the exhibition on a large scale. In this way, the Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt once again becomes tangible as a site of experimental spatial art.

A Step Ahead / Einen Schritt voraus is part of the program of World Design Capital 2026 Frankfurt Rhine-Main and builds on Darmstadt’s international significance as an early “capital of design.” The exhibition positions itself as a bridge between cultural heritage and current social challenges, and as an invitation to understand design as an active, responsible process—one that is always a step ahead of its time.