Wirbelwerk sculpture at the Lenbachhaus

In the atrium of the Lenbachhaus, which reopened in May 2013 and is best known for its ‘Der Blaue Reiter’ collection, visitors are greeted by the ‘Wirbelwerk’ sculpture by Danish artist Olafur Eliasson, crafted from hand-blown glass and metal; behind it, the former exterior facade of Franz von Lenbach’s artist villa, built in the Italian Renaissance style, is cleverly showcased. The spiral is somewhat reminiscent of the roof of the Reichstag building in Berlin, and it’s no coincidence that the same architects – Foster & Partners – were at work here.