100 Years Bauhaus

The main idea of Bauhaus was the expression ‘form follows function’. Their goal was to combine art and craft and the main idea means that the design should be applied first because of its function. Even though many, especially young people connect the modern, minimalistic, affordable furniture with the well known Ikea chain, this concept was actually inspired by Bauhaus.

The Bauhaus was founded when Walter Gropius became the director of a new institution, that emerged by uniting the former Grand Ducal School of Arts and Crafts and the Weimar Academy of Fine Art. It was named the State Bauhaus in Weimar or simply known as the Bauhaus. However soon after the founding, the budget for Bauhaus was cut by half and teachers contracts were cancelled in 1924, due to political reasons after the right wing party gained the majority in the election. After the closure of the Bauhaus in Weimar in 1925, the school changed its location to the neighboring federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, to Dessau. The famous Bauhaus Building in Dessau, designed by Gropius’s architecture office was opened in 1926. Most of the famous products and buildings Bauhaus is known for were created here.

Just shortly after opening the school in Dessau, the Nazis gained control of the city council and Bauhaus had to fight for its existence yet again. The directors post was handed over several times, however the school in Dessau was closed again in September 1932. For a short period of time, it was relocated to an old telephone factory in Berlin-Steglitz but the final closure came only a year later, in July 1933. After the Nazis gain the power in Germany, many of the artist left the country. However they carried their ideas and concepts all over the world. 

Where can we see Bauhaus today?

There are several places where we can admire the typical minimalist style of members of the Bauhaus school. They include of course museums in all the former bases in Germany – Weimar, Dessau or Berlin. Just a short walk from the famous Bauhaus school in Dessau, we can also find the Master Houses designed by Walter Gropius. There are also other building spread around many German cities.

The most Bauhaus buildings however are located in Tel Aviv, Israel, where many students escaped from the Nazis in Germany. Over 4000 buildings were designed and built and form so called The White City, since 2003 also an UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.

Another famous building today opened to public is the famous Tugendhat villa in Brno, Czech republic. Tours of the villa are usually sold out months ahead.

Other Bauhaus buildings can be found for example in Poland, France, Netherlands, Spain, USA, Hungary and Chile. If you are ever close to any of the locations, you should definitely check it out. You might be surprised, how some of the designs look modern even after 100 years.

Links:

https://www.bauhaus100.com/the-bauhaus/

https://www.dw.com/en/10-essential-facts-about-bauhaus/g-41278123

https://www.dw.com/en/the-success-of-bauhaus-abroad/g-44849264

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/bauhaus-100-where-germany-architecture-us-chicago-tel-aviv-centenary-a8652301.html