Katt Both

Katt? Who was the woman behind this enigmatic name? What biographical events shaped her life? How are they reflected in her work, which was committed to the "New Building" movement, housing, and design, and which was always connected to the city of Kassel?

On the occasion of Katt Both's 120th birthday, this project is dedicated to the life and work of the architect, photographer, and furniture designer. It was developed with students from the Department of Design and Building Theory at the University of Kassel under the supervision of Prof. Marie-Therese Harnoncourt-Fuchs and Dr. Ute Maasberg.

Based on original photographs, plans, and documents from her estate, a curatorial concept was developed and implemented. The exhibition is organized as a field of reference for diverse perspectives and possible interpretations. The exhibition, which fills the entire space, recounts Katt Both's enthusiastic and radical development and creative phase in the sections "Education and Self-Discovery 1923–27" and "Working at the Pulse of the Times 1928–33+". Among the themes explored are questions of self-representation, the functional yet atmospheric design of floor plans for diverse housing models, the relationship to nature, and the question: How does one convey an idea? Also inscribed within Katt Both's development and creative phase are the themes of "The New Woman and the New Building in a Socio-Political Context," which illuminate the gradual ideologization of architecture, culture, and society following the National Socialists' rise to power in 1933. Contemporary documents make this transformation visible and audible.

Experimental exhibition formats, emerging artistic perspectives, and contemporary art curated by Sabine Kienzer unfold subtle dialogues between past and present. A supporting program continues the contemporary discourse on the exhibition's themes within a discursive space.

The exhibition invites visitors to rediscover Katt Both in all her radicalism and ambivalence. Her questions about socially just, affordable, and high-quality housing are as relevant today as the socio-political issues that significantly shaped her life, career, and work. These questions remain unresolved and, a century later, once again challenge the stability of our democracy.

Opening: February 10, 2026, 6 p.m.

Speakers: Ute Clement, Marie-Therese Harnoncourt-Fuchs, Ute Maasberg, Martin Schmidl, Sven Schoeller