The main building was begun in 1897 by
Alfred Messel and inaugurated in 1906. a monumental entrance hall with a staircase in
Palladian architecture, a
Pompeian style wing (509 BC – 400 AD) for the ancient art (including Roman courtyard and Oceanus mosaic),
Romanesque corridors and chapels (900–1300) for the medieval treasure art, a
Late Gothic hall (1350–1500) for the historical weapons, the
Italian Renaissance Chiavenna room ( 1580) for the Princely Treasury and corresponding open courtyards. The large east-wing
Baroque hall with an imposing barrel vault is used for special exhibitions. This asymmetric agglomeration of architectural styles, according to the design philosophy "
Form follows function", The south-east tower, containing the library, that was realized only partly. Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt Grundriss.png|Floor plan at the time of construction, published 1911 Source:
Location The museum is located between Residential Palace Darmstadt and the urban park . the squares and , as well as the street Zeughausstraße (Cityring).
Renovations and extensions A large extension on the west side of the main building was designed by Reinhold Kargel, completed in 1984. , the controversial, modern building extension houses the painting gallery with 400 paintings. After major €80 million renovations from 2007 onwards, it reopened on 13 September 2014. About 100,000 exhibits are displayed on of exhibition space; the complete floor area is . In its high-rise north wing, the museum houses the Art Nouveau/prehistory and early history, zoology/handicrafts, geology and modern/contemporary arts collections on floors one above the other. Cultural history is presented in the lower south wing. Interior view - Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt - Darmstadt, Germany - DSC09940.jpg|Entrance hall The Oceanus Mosaic from Bad Vilbel, it originally belonged to a Roman thermal bath facility, end of 2nd century AD, Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt, Germany (34618004392).jpg|Roman courtyard and
Oceanus mosaic Armoury Hall - Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt - Darmstadt, Germany - DSC00597.jpg|Gothic Armoury hall Chiavenna Room, from Casa Moro, Chiavenna, c. 1580, maple, ash, walnut, other woods - Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt - Darmstadt, Germany - DSC00452.jpg|Chiavenna room ==Collections==