The series ‘Archive Object of the Month’ does not begin with a single document from the sub-archives of the foundation, a copy from the libraries originating from the estates and bequests of important figures associated with Hombroich, or an exhibit from the art and object collection from the estate of Karl-Heinrich Müller, but rather the basis of the newly designed and freshly occupied storage area on the upper floor of the building: the archive shelf.
The Hombroich Archive has undergone extensive renovation in recent years. This measure was necessary, among other things, because the archive – like many collections, archives and libraries today – had to contend with an infestation of silverfish. In order to preserve the collection, all archive material was therefore moved to temporary locations and treated for conservation purposes. The building itself, a walk-in sculpture by Erwin Heerich, was renovated to meet current archive standards. While the interior design of the sculpture featured many wooden elements, such as floorboards, wooden ceilings and wooden shelves, tables and chairs designed by artist Katsuhito Nishikawa, the interior now looks different: smoothly plastered walls and ceilings and a light-coloured reinforced concrete floor set the stage on the upper floor for archive shelves made of light grey, powder-coated stainless steel, which were purchased for the archive : magazine thanks to generous funding from the LVR. In order to create an aesthetic bridge to the previous interior design style, wooden table tops were installed, but now stand on steel legs – a compromise between functionality and aesthetics. The arrangement of the archive shelves has also been implemented as before: they stand in a radial arrangement around the square courtyard.
Since the sculpture, now used as an archive building, was originally designed as a seminar building for the International Institute of Biophysics, there are challenges in implementing optimal archival use, particularly with regard to the distribution and furnishing of the rooms. The storage area is therefore located on the upper floor, which is rather unusual. The offices, a small exhibition area in the foyer, the storage room for the art and object collection, which is still under construction, and the newly furnished quarantine room are located on the ground floor. The former wooden archive shelves were previously located in the building at the Raketenstation, which is now used as a guest studio. It was not until 2008 that they (and with them the holdings of the Hombroich : Archive) were moved to the current archive building. The history of the archive shelving in Hombroich is therefore a story of flexibility, which now, with the new installation, no longer requires any compromises. The new shelves are durable, functional and, above all, preserve the collection.
Anyone interested in viewing the new shelving and the current status of the relocation is cordially invited to the Archives Day on 7 March 2026.
The series ‘Archive Object of the Month’ presents archival materials, books, artworks and objects from the extensive archives and collections of the Stiftung Insel Hombroich on a monthly basis.