Architecture 01of 23 The Dessau Bauhaus.avi

Summary

The Bauhaus, founded by Walter Gropius in Dessau, Germany in 1926, was a revolutionary school of art, architecture, and design. Its iconic building, with glass walls, right angles, and flat roofs, symbolized modernity and industrial aesthetics. The school aimed to unify art and craftsmanship, influencing disciplines like metalworking, weaving, and stagecraft. Despite facing political opposition and relocation, the Bauhaus left a lasting impact on 20th-century architecture and design, now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The Bauhaus, founded by Walter Gropius in 1919, aimed to unify art and crafts, creating a new industrial aesthetic known today as design.
• 🚂 In 1926, the Bauhaus moved to Dessau, Germany, where Gropius designed a building that became an icon of 20th-century architecture, featuring glass walls, right angles, and flat roofs.
• 🎉 The inauguration of the Dessau Bauhaus was a grand event on December 4th, 1926, attracting over a thousand guests and symbolizing hope and vitality post-World War I.
• 🛠️ The Bauhaus building was designed to serve various functions, including workshops, administrative areas, a theater, student housing, and a technical school, reflecting the diverse needs of the institution.
• 🌐 Gropius's design philosophy emphasized the importance of understanding the building through movement, as it was not meant to be comprehended from a single perspective.
• 🏗️ The construction of the Bauhaus building was a testament to modern architectural and industrial techniques, completed in just over a year and inspired by American industrial architecture.
• 🌞 Gropius carefully considered the building's orientation to maximize natural light and maintain a harmonious relationship with nature, aligning with the Bauhaus's principles of hygiene and functionality.
• 🏡 The Bauhaus complex included separate houses for the teachers, designed to showcase the architectural techniques of the main building while also serving as symbols of the future bourgeois home.
• 🚫 The Bauhaus faced political opposition, being labeled as decadent and cosmopolitan, leading to its relocation to Berlin in 1933 and eventual closure under Nazi rule.
• 🔄 The Bauhaus building and its legacy have undergone various transformations, from being a school for girls to a training center for Nazi officials, and later, after World War II, falling into disrepair and neglect.

Q & A

Where was the Bauhaus school originally founded and by whom?

The Bauhaus school was originally founded in Weimar in 1919 by Walter Gropius.

What was the main goal of the Bauhaus movement?

The main goal of the Bauhaus movement was to reconcile art and crafts to create a new industrial aesthetic, now known as design.

Why was the Bauhaus school forced to leave Weimar?

The Bauhaus school was forced to leave Weimar because the far right won the elections in 1925 and decided to shut down the school.

What was significant about the location chosen for the Bauhaus building in Dessau?

The location in Dessau was significant because it was an important industrial center, providing an ideal location for an encounter between the aesthetic avant-garde and heavy industry.

How did Walter Gropius design the Bauhaus building to reflect its purpose?

Walter Gropius designed the Bauhaus building with an interlocking system, linking different elements in an asymmetric form to adapt to the true needs of the school, including workshops, administrative areas, a theater, student housing, and a technical school.

What was unique about the Bauhaus building's facade and structure?

The Bauhaus building had a facade bearing only its own weight, detached from the structure, with a curtain of glass. This allowed the pillars to take on the load-bearing role, creating a simple, industrial aesthetic.

How did the Bauhaus school's approach to architecture influence its educational philosophy?

The Bauhaus school's approach to architecture emphasized rationality, functionality, and the relationship between form and function, which influenced its educational philosophy to focus on practical, hands-on learning and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Why did the Bauhaus school eventually move to Berlin?

The Bauhaus school moved to Berlin in 1933 due to increasing political pressure and opposition from the Nazi party, which deemed the school decadent and cosmopolitan.

What was the fate of the Bauhaus building and its teachers' houses after the school left Dessau?

After the Bauhaus school left Dessau, the building was abandoned by its detractors, and the teachers' houses were left to deteriorate. The building was partially destroyed during World War II, and Gropius's house was destroyed entirely.

How has the Bauhaus building been repurposed and recognized in recent history?

In 1976, the Bauhaus building was restored, and after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the teachers' homes were turned into exhibition areas. UNESCO now lists the Bauhaus as a world heritage site, and the building has been reopened to the public as part school, part museum.