Schulenburg House

The Schulenburg Mansion in Gera is one of the most important works by Henry van de Velde. The Belgian architect and designer was a prominent exponent of early modernism. The house, built between 1913 and 1915 for the family of local factory owner Paul Schulenburg, was designed as a Gesamtkunstwerk – a total work of art. Van de Velde was responsible not only for the building’s architecture but also for its interiors and gardens. This impressive ensemble is an early example of nascent modernism’s idea of a comprehensive approach to art. Elements that would later become integral to Bauhaus design are already found here.