Haus Lange and Haus Esters are perhaps the most famous buildings in Krefeld, especially when you take into account the architecture of the twentieth century. They were built in 1930 by the star of the functionalist architecture Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. He later moved to the United States and established the Architectural Institute there. The owners of large textile enterprises in Krefeld - Hermann Lange and Josef Esters were the customers.
Although Haus Lange and Haus Esters buildings were according to the wishes of the customers and the plan of Mies van der Rohe was not fully embodied, they became architectural sensation of the time. Even today, they look new and fresh. Their cubic and rectangular shapes and large square windows provide plenty of light and space. That's why they are so well suited for a variety of cultural activities for which they are now used. Heirs of Esters and Lange donated both houses to the city and the government decided to create here the branches of Krefeld Museum. The buildings are open only during exhibitions, which usually cover the latest trends in art. In a small nearby park the visitors encounter sculptures by famous artists of the twentieth century. Among them is the six-meter "monument" to Claes Oldenburg’s toothbrush.