Museum Insel Hombroich
One of my very favorite places that I've traveled in my short life has been an off-the-beaten-path landscape museum outside of Dusseldorf, Germany. The day I visited was an overcast morning in early spring. The museum is, in actuality, a series of pavilions spread across a 62-acre landscape that alternates between aged forests and grassy clearings where wildlife grazes, keeping a safe distance from visitors. If you're looking to experience a place where architecture blurs the line between the built and the natural landscape, this is it.
As the story goes, real estate broker Karl Heinrich Muller purchased the land when he saw its potential to display his vast collection of art. He shared his vision with local artists and architects, who helped him make his vision a reality. Landscape Architect Bernhard Korte worked with Sculptor Erwin Heerich to create a series of sculptural art pavilions scattered amongst a minimalist landscape. Each pavilion features a type of art from a different place or time. The central building, primarily steel and glass construction, houses a cafeteria that serves local organic food to visitors, on the house. The experience is nothing short of a fairytale as you pass through dense forests on a gravel path, walk across grassy meadows and travel in and out of buildings with varying levels of exterior connection. I can't help but imagine a furniture exhibition taking place here, featuring the organic simplicity of Scandinavian Modern furniture…ahhh – but that's just me! I would highly recommend this hidden gem if your travels ever lead you near this part of Germany.