When does the exhibition take place?

The exhibition runs from April 10 to September 27, 2026, and is regularly visible on August 20, 2026.

How much is the admission fee?

According to museum information, the admission fee for adults is 4 euros, reduced 2 euros. Children and youth under 18 years have free admission, except at events.

Where is the Bielefeld Farmhouse Museum located?

The museum is located at Dornberger Strasse 82 in 33619 Bielefeld.

Is the museum accessible?

The grounds are only partially accessible. Some areas such as the hall of the main building, the children's house, the café, and restrooms are accessible at ground level; other buildings have steps or stairs.

Are there any travel tips?

The bus line 24 goes from Jahnplatz to the Bielefeld Farmhouse Museum stop. The museum recommends the Johannisberg parking lot by car; only disabled parking is available directly at the entrance.

Is photography allowed in the museum?

Yes, photos are generally allowed on the grounds and in the buildings. For commercial or journalistic recordings, the museum recommends a prior request.

Rare Furniture, Clear Contrasts, and Regional Living Culture at the Bielefeld Farmhouse Museum

Name: Other Living Differently
Start: 2026-08-20T12:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-09-27T20:00:00+02:00
Location: Bauernhausmuseum Bielefeld

Other Living Differently: Furniture from the 19th Century at the Bielefeld Farmhouse Museum

The special exhibition Other Living Differently opens the view on living culture as a mirror of society, taste, and social order. At the Bielefeld Farmhouse Museum, richly painted and carved furniture from the rural-farming Ravensberger Land meets bourgeois-urban furnishings with light surfaces, simple forms, and progressive types such as dressers, benches, and sewing cabinets.

Living as a Cultural Narrative

The presentation shows how furniture in the 19th century was not only useful objects but also made status, lifestyle, and aesthetic preferences visible. Cabinets, chests, sideboards, and four-poster beds unfold a special effect here: They tell stories of craftsmanship, materiality, and the long history of rural living spaces in the Ravensberger Land.

Rare Objects from the Collection of the City of Bielefeld

Especially impressive is the view of furniture that has either never been shown or has not been publicly displayed for decades. The exhibition draws on a collection that has been developed since 1905, placing a precise work examination at its center. This makes it clear why these furnishings were already sought after as antiques around 1900 and ended up in significant museums.

Comparison between Country and City

The curatorial comparison makes the differences in living space equipment and design preferences directly experienceable. While rural furniture impresses with ornamentation, color, and craftsmanship, the urban-bourgeois pieces appear more reserved and functional. It is precisely in this juxtaposition that an aesthetic experience emerges, connecting art history, everyday culture, and museum education.

Thematic Year, Context, and Museum Experience

The exhibition is part of the thematic year Home, Sweet Home of the Museums Initiative OWL and broadens the cultural-historical horizon with questions of living, furnishing, and cohabitation. In cooperation with the City Museum of Lippstadt, the special exhibition contributes a solid overview of historical living culture, regional identity, and museum mediation.

Visit, Atmosphere, and Conclusion

Those interested in exhibitions, historical furniture, regional history, and the subtle differences between bourgeois and rural living environments will find an equally educational and atmospheric art experience here. Other Living Differently invites you to walk through the history of living with open eyes and to experience the exhibition live at the Bielefeld Farmhouse Museum.