For their creator, the artist Kurt Schwitters, the “Merzbauten” (“Merz constructions”) series of abstract installations were of great significance. They not only reflected the artist’s artistic style through their sprawling sculptures, which spanned several rooms – they also endured a similarly tragic fate. Although the buildings were created at different times and locations, none of them survive today. 

His first multi-room Merz construction, occupying several rooms on two floors of his parents’ house, was destroyed in 1943 during a bombing attack on Hannover. During his period of Norwegian exile, Schwitters developed a follow-up Merzbau but this had not yet been completed when he was forced to flee from the approaching German Wehrmacht. His studio in Lysaker and the Merzbau walls it contained fell victim to fire in 1951. The artist set to work on his art for the last time in 1947 to create his final Merz installation. Schwitters conceived a plan for a Merz transformation of a derelict barn in Elterwater, a village in the English Lake District. He hoped that the construction would remain intact for a period of 50 years. The owner of the land, a retired landscape architect, developed the installation together with an assistant and Schwitters’ partner, in accordance with the then-ill artist’s instructions. However, Schwitters lost his fight against illness before his final installation could be completed.

In order to preserve some part of the work from the decay caused by moisture in the walls, a completed relief wall was sold to the University of Newcastle, where it has been on display since 1965.