Bauhaus

Bauhaus

When the word Bauhaus is translated from German it can be understood as '’the house of construction’. Bauhaus is one of the most famous and influential schools of the twentieth century design. It was an art school in Germany, it’s founder was Walter Gropius. Walter ‘s idea was to create a work of art which includes all types of art together, joining architecture, sculpture and painting and creating one expressive piece of work. He, also wanted to improve Germany’s craft work industry. Gropius had an aim to bring together design and new technologies to improve the design world.

The school existed in three German cities over different periods of time: Weimar from 1919 to 1925, Dessau from 1925 to 1932, Berlin from 1932 to 1933. The schools where directed by three different architects, which include of Walter Gropius from 1919 to 1928, Hannes Meyer from 1928 to 1930 and Ludwig Mies van de Rohe from 1930 to 1933. In 1933 the school had to close down because it was forced by the Nazi government. Although the school was closed down the Bauhaus still lived with the society and continues to inspire people today.Before students entered the workshop, they had to study a basic course of about 6 months long. This course was thought by Johannes Itten, JSEF Albers, and Laszlo Moholy Nagy. It gave an introduction to the students about the elementary study of form, the basic materials that are found in the workshops and the theory of the arts. After the basic course, students move on to the workshops where they work practically, and can choose the specialized area they want to study. The workshops at Bauhaus included of carpentry, weaving, ceramics, wall painting, metalwork, sculpture, glass painting, bookbinding, and the graphic print workshop. 

Max Krehan's Ceramics Workshop at the Weimar Bauhaus (1924)

Weaving Workshop at the Dessau Bauhaus (1927)

Now a day most art and design programs are based on the Bauhaus. A good example of this is our own college of art and design. Where we first are introduced to the basics and then we gradually specialize in the area of choice.

Characteristics of Bauhaus –

Clean lines, geometric form and gridded space

In architecture – clean and functional

Minimalistic

Ultra-modern

Contemporary 

The colours red, yellow and blue

Use of typography

Anti-ornament

When Bauhaus came about, they thought that unnecessary ornaments were starting to get old and minimalism was the new kind of design art, they thought good design required simple geometric forms and form follows function.

Club Chair (The Wassily Chair) by Marcel Breuer 1925 

The Club Chair also known as the Wassily Chair is an iconic chair which was made out of just two materials; steel and leather. This chair was a revolutionary piece of work because it’s design was lightweight, easy to move, can be mass produced easily, comfortable and was the first chair to have a bent steel frame.  The inspiration for this chair came from the frame of a bicycle, Breuer’s chair was ground breaking because it changed the way we see art and began a new era in design.  The Club Chair remains iconic and modern till this day and it will probably never lose its importance and will continue to inspire many in the modern design world.

Zetel Furniture by Muller and Van Severen

Zetel is a modern piece of furniture that is deeply inspired by Bauhaus. This chair has many characteristics that are influenced from club Chair by Marcel Breuer, it has a thin metal frame made out of red metal bars with leather sheets that create a seating. it includes of a floor lamp and two sitting parts that are all combined into one structure. It’s very minimalist features make it look appealingly and modern.

Bauhaus Architecture

Bauhaus architecture is very minimalist and functional style. Materials that are commonly used are concrete, steel and glass. The buildings are normally cubic and geometrical that feature flat roof tops, and smooth facades. The buildings are normally in the colours white, gray, beige or black. The interiors feature a lot of open plans and minimalist and functional furniture with the least ornaments. 

Gropius House, Lincoln, Massachusetts (1938)

Dessau - Bauhaus/Walter Gropius

Inspired by Bauhaus - Darcons Headquarters : By Arquitectura en Proceso

Reference -

Bauhaus (2016) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauhaus (Accessed: 22 May 2016).

Teaching (2016) Available at: http://bauhaus-online.de/en/atlas/das-bauhaus/lehre (Accessed: 22 May 2016).

Framed, A.A. (2014) The Bauhaus Art Movement. Available at: http://www.abstract-art-framed.com/bauhaus.html (Accessed: 22 May 2016).

(No Date) Available at: http://www.theartstory.org/movement-bauhaus.htm (Accessed: 22 May 2016).

Payne, S. (2010) History of design: Wassily chair by Marcel Breuer. Available at: http://www.thecoolist.com/wassily-chair-by-marcel-breuer/ (Accessed: 22 May 2016).

Wassily chair (2015) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wassily_Chair (Accessed: 22 May 2016).

Jackson, A.K. (2012) Zetel furniture by Muller and Van Severen. Available at: http://www.thecoolist.com/zetel-furniture-by-fien-muller-and-hannes-van-severen/ (Accessed: 2 May 2016).

Craven, J. (2016) Modernism - picture dictionary of modern architecture. Available at: http://architecture.about.com/od/20thcenturytrends/ig/Modern-Architecture/Bauhaus.htm (Accessed: 22 May 2016).