Hands-on design: Passagen 2026 comes to Machwerkhaus Cologne

From the moment you step inside Machwerkhaus, one thing is clear: this place is constantly in motion. The scent of wood hangs in the air, voices and tools echo through the lofty halls of the former technical depot. Nothing stands still and that restless energy is once again part of Passagen Köln this year.

Machwerkhaus Cologne: a modern-day manufactory

At Machwerkhaus, design, craftsmanship, technology and commerce come together across 20,000 square metres. More than 400 creative minds, the Machwerkers, work together as a community. “We have a very heterogeneous mix of tenants,” says Thiemo Klein from Machwerkhaus. That diversity is reflected in the broad range of products and services created on site.

Among the Machwerkers is the team behind the Natur-Atelier Cosmaki, where everything revolves around circular production. Food leftovers from the catering industry are turned into pigments, while discarded hotel towels find a new purpose.

Risografie-Werkstatt Rosh, a risograph printing studio, also embraces sustainable printing, working with inks made from rice bran or soya oil.

The Machwerkhaus community brings together talents such as Moritz Plöns, a material researcher and industrial designer specialising in object design, as well as Draufgänger, a workshop dedicated to making and repairing shoes, bags, belts and leather accessories, with hands-on workshops.

Exploring Machwerkhaus during Passagen

When Cologne turns into a design playground in January 2026 and Passagen takes over the city, Machwerkhaus opens the doors of its studios, showrooms and workshops wider than ever. The message is clear: design doesn’t come at the end of the process, it sits right in the middle, between people, materials and the city. Under the banner of “Local production meets design culture”, visitors can experience how design grows and evolves from 16 to 22 January 2026. During Passagen, Machwerkhaus is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm. Expect strong designers, exciting collectives, direct insights and plenty of exchange.

“The best way to explore is along the Magistrale – that’s our heart,” says Thiemo. The central route is lined with showrooms by various designers.

From there, visitors reach the Machwerkhalle, where the RAFT collective and collaborators take over from 16 January at 5 pm. The group consists largely of current and former students of the Academy for Craft Design Gut Rosenberg in Aachen. For Passagen Köln 2026, they curate the large hall of Machwerkhaus independently, shaping it according to their own ideas. The exhibition “Diversity in Craft Design” presents design as a process that is rooted in responsibility and genuine collaboration. “We know the quality Gut Rosenberg stands for,” says Thiemo. “That’s why we’re confident something special will emerge.”

Art and cocktails

Also taking part is Kunstkollektiv Freeters. With spatial concepts and one-of-a-kind pieces, the collective transforms spaces into vibrant places to live, play, work and learn, shaping environments that create identity and spark inspiration and emotion.

At the MBSY showroom on the Machwerkhaus site, Raphael Klug / JK Schomann present interior objects ranging from handcrafted small series to industrially scalable design concepts for hospitality and interior spaces.

Julian F. Eckes also opens his new workspace at Machwerkhaus, together with friends. Spanning around 200 square metres, the space brings together large-scale paintings by Aleks Eckes, black-and-white photography by Ben Hammer, a multimedia intervention by Rafael Andrade-Córdova, as well as Eckes’ own furniture and designs.

If you want to learn more about the exhibitions and the people behind them, just drop by the cocktail evenings at Machwerkhaus on the following dates:

• Kunstkollektiv Freeters: 16 January, from 7 pm
• Raphael Klug / JK Schomann: 16 January, from 8 pm
• RAFT collective: 17 January, from 6 pm
• Julian F. Eckes: 17 January, from 7 pm – including the official opening of his new studio in its unfinished state. With music and a cold drink, visitors can immerse themselves in a world of art, design and craftsmanship.

There are plenty more discoveries to be made throughout the week, as the Machwerkers form a diverse community of creative and innovative minds, showcasing the full spectrum of urban production.

Passagen 2026:

• Passagen Köln is Germany’s largest design festival. Founded in 1990 by Sabine Voggenreiter, it focuses on interior, furniture and product design.
• From 16 to 22 January 2026 there are exhibitions, installations and events across Cologne.
• A city map highlights all participants and venues of Passagen 2026, including Machwerkhaus (Dillenburger Str. 71–97), DingFabrik (Fritz-Voigt-Str. 1), Ehrenfeld Café (Venloer Str. 176), Pattenhalle (Christianstr. 82) and the Open Design Campus by students of the Cologne campus (Brüderstr. 1).
• While admission to Passagen Köln is free, some individual events may charge a fee.

Curious about the design trends on display at Passagen 2023? Take a peek here.