Matterhaus

The original Matterhaus was built in the chalet style in 1868. The Matter family ran a bakery and tearoom here. The building burned down in 1953 and was rebuilt in 1956. The new Matterhaus was once again home to a tearoom, as well as a dance hall on the first floor. The colours of brown, white and sky blue dominated the main façade facing Dorfstrasse. These featured the graphical elements and lettering typical of Herbert Matter. Over the years, the building was remodelled and extended several times. Over the years, the building has been altered and added to several times. The characteristic appearance has completely faded. In 2020/21, the Matterhaus, steeped in history, was extensively restored and revitalised. The façade was given back its characteristic architectural features from the 1950s and now shines again in its original colours. The rosette patterns and ornamental paintings typical of the period of origin have since also been visible. The true-to-the-original brush renovation pays tribute to Herbert Matter and revives the lettering, colours and detail formations.

The artist of Engelberg

Herbert Matter was an innovative and experimental photographer and graphic designer. His parents owned the Matterhaus. He was born in Engelberg in 1907 and attended the grammar school there. He went on to study art in Geneva and Paris, where his influences included Le Corbusier and where he learned the intricacies of typography. Matter became famous for his tourism posters and his designs for prestigious American fashion magazines. He boldly combined the elements of typography with photo montages, which earned him international acclaim. In 1936, he decided to remain in the USA, where he came into contact with the New York art scene. In 1939, he designed the Swiss pavilion at the World’s Fair in New York. This was followed by further photography commissions, film productions and a professorship at Yale University. In addition, he was responsible for the design and corporate image of the famous designer furniture manufacturer Knoll between 1946 and 1966. Herbert Matter died in the USA in 1984.