Neues Frankfurt neu gedacht: FarbDesignStudio setzt Farbimpulse
Ober-Ramstadt, June 26, 2026 – On July 2, the Ernst May House in Frankfurt will open its doors for a unique design experiment. Through the project New Neues Frankfurt, the historic model home has been transformed into a laboratory for new forms of resource-conscious living. Developed by Studio Jonathan Radetz in collaboration with the ernst-may-gesellschaft e.V., the project presents forward-looking concepts for contemporary housing. The results will be showcased during a public closing event at 6:00 p.m. and can be viewed through July 5.
At the heart of the project is the historic model home in northwest Frankfurt, reimagined as a temporary design laboratory. Building on the ideas of the original New Frankfurt movement, the project explores room concepts, furniture designs, and material solutions that address current demands for sufficiency, flexibility, and circularity.
Caparol Color Concept Creates a Unifying Design Language
The color concept was developed jointly by Studio Jonathan Radetz and Caparol’s ColorDesignStudio. As part of the project, the team created a practical color fan deck designed to support everyday interior color planning. Drawing on both the original color schemes of the Ernst May House and contemporary approaches to compact living, the concept establishes a clear, flexible palette that helps structure smaller spaces while enhancing their spatial quality.
The resulting color collection makes the concept accessible to a broad audience in the fields of housing and interior design. It comprises 55 carefully selected shades for contemporary living, combining base colors for larger surfaces with coordinated accent tones.
“The collaboration with Caparol played a key role in shaping our color concept. The expertise and creative input from the ColorDesignStudio helped us successfully connect historical references with the demands of contemporary living,” said designer and project initiator Jonathan Radetz.
New Perspectives on Living in Existing Buildings
For Caparol, the collaboration represents more than a standalone project. It is a deliberate contribution to the current architectural dialogue surrounding the future of existing buildings.
“For us, New Neues Frankfurt is an exciting opportunity to actively contribute to the World Design Capital program. We see color as a connecting element when it comes to rethinking and repurposing existing architecture. Color provides orientation and plays a defining role in shaping the atmosphere of a space. As a result, it becomes an important factor in creating acceptance for change within the built environment. As a source of inspiration for architects and designers, we want to demonstrate the potential that thoughtfully developed color concepts offer for circular and resource-efficient construction,” explained Margit Vollmert, Head of the Caparol ColorDesignStudio.
The project builds on the legacy of the New Frankfurt movement, which set new standards in residential architecture during the 1920s. Today, that vision is being revisited through contemporary questions: How can high-quality living be achieved in smaller spaces? What role do materials, surfaces, and especially color play in supporting orientation, atmosphere, and functionality?
Visitors can explore these questions firsthand at the publicly accessible model home, which is open throughout the exhibition. The color fan deck and accompanying design concepts also provide practical inspiration for architects, planners, and interior designers.
The closing event on July 2 at 6:00 p.m. will offer guided tours of the newly reimagined Ernst May House. The exhibition remains open to visitors until July 5.
About New Neues Frankfurt
New Neues Frankfurt was launched to mark the 100th anniversary of the original New Frankfurt movement and explores new approaches to sufficient and sustainable living. The project received the GFB Future Award 2024 and is supported by the Frankfurt Office of Cultural Affairs. It is part of the official program of World Design Capital Frankfurt RheinMain 2026.
