In 1899, Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig invited seven young Art Nouveau artists to the Mathildenhöhe – the birth of the Darmstadt Kuenstlerkolonie or Colony of Artists, which existed until 1914. In four large exhibitions, the artists displayed their visions of a modern, art-based world. The buildings together form the „Mathildenhöhe“.

As a reaction to industrialisation, around 1900, artist colonies were created in Germany. In Darmstadt, on the "Musenhügel", a document of the departure for modern forms of construction and housing grew - starting point for modern industrial design.