Bauhaus School of Design

Type designed by Herbert Bayer for the Bauhaus in Dessau, Germany.

Staatlichess Bauhaus, founded in 1919 by architect Walter Gropius, was a school in Weimar, Germany that concentrated on crafts and fine arts, with an emphasis on the concept of design. Bauhaus was established with the thought that art, crafts, and design should be unified, therefore combining artistic elements to express form, and function, design, and architecture in a single aspect. Arts, crafts, and design were the main, integral focuses of the school; architecture was then slowly integrated into the curriculum as time went by. Bauhaus was influential to the development of modern art, interior design, industrial design, and architecture, as well as graphic design and typography. Bauhaus highly influenced the style, development, construction, and structure of modern architecture, and modern design of the 20^th century. 

Bauhaus House, Museum at Bialik Street, Tel Aviv-Yaffo.

Walter Gropius had a vision of what modern architecture, art, and design should be, and wanted to reflect this idea into society through his school. Gropius’ goal was to create a new conception of what the world should view as art. His artistic ideas, and notions were considered radical at a time where elegant, intricate, and old world design techniques were still highly regarded. Gropius’ objective was to reinvent the views of art, and bring unity to the form and function of all artistic inspirations; design, painting, sculpting, architecture, into one main focus. He wanted to introduce into society a faction of designers and artisans that understood the forthcoming industrial demands of the modern world, while also creating style and function suitable for everyday purpose.

The Bauhaus Building in Dessau, Germany.

Bauhaus “radical” teachings, and modern artistic concepts were highly scrutinized by conservative forces, mainly political regimes that were not fond of the modern ideas and teachings of the school. Through constant instigation, and scrutinization by these political commands, Bauhaus’ funding was drastically reduced, forcing the school to move its location from Weimar, to Dessau, Germany in 1925. While at Dessau, Bauhaus benefited from a growth in economic development, becoming the municipally funded school of design. Bauhaus had its most prominent years while at Dessau, and directed its focus towards new ideas, and concepts of modern design, art, and architecture. This headed the school into a new direction, and influenced the production of some of the most famous works of art, architecture, and design concepts in a span of six years (1926-1932).  In 1931, due to political influences of the National Socialist German Worker’s Party as they gained power, and influence over the Dressau City Council the Bauhaus school was closed. In late 1932, the school was then reestablished in Berlin, Germany with no luck, it closed its doors indefinitely in 1933.

A Newspaper Shelf by Walter Gropius.

Bauhaus had a great influence on the modern art, and architecture style of the United States, Western Europe, Canada, and Israel. As a spectator living in largely populated and industrial cities, you are able to see the inspirations brought about by the idea and design concepts of Bauhaus; glass and metal skyscraper construction, industrial style factory/manufacturing facilities, and modernist architecture in some of the major cities around the world; New York City, Chicago, London, etc. These structural designs are full of clean lines, metal construction, with an importance to wide-open space, with little or no inner spatial obstruction. Not only was Bauhaus influential in architectural construction, but also in the scheme of modern furniture design. Principles of Bauhaus furniture design use ideas similar to the Bauhaus architectural impression; minimal, clean, non-essential forms, with simple elements used to create a maximum effect.

The Wassily Chair, Designed by Marcel Breuer at Bauhaus.

Bauhaus holds a particular position in the culture of design, architecture, and art concepts of the 20^th century. As being one of the first schools of design, it flourished the minds of some of the most influential, intellectual, and inspiring contemporary architects and artists of the time. Their ideas were full of new, innovative, original, pioneering, and groundbreaking technologies that inspired all aspects of the visual arts world. In a time of financial and social turmoil, Bauhaus stood above all and inspired a generation of inventive thinkers with mastery in contemporary design that still inspires architects, and art students around the world today.

References

Hunter, Sam, John M. Jacobus, and Daniel Wheeler. "Chapter 13, The Shaping of a New Architecture: 1918-40." Modern Art: Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Photography. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2004. 206. Print.

Griffith Winton, Alexandra. "The Bauhaus, 1919–1933". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/bauh/hd_bauh.htm (August 2007)

"Bauhaus 1919-1933." : Bauhaus History : Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau / Bauhaus Dessau Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2012.

 "Bauhaus (German School of Design)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2012.

*Captions link to photo source.