Bauhaus
The Bauhaus was a German art school founded by architect Walter Gropius in Weimar in 1919. The school aimed to bring together all aspects of art, including fine arts, crafts, and architecture, under one roof, to create a new unity of art and design. Here are some key points about Bauhaus:
Foundation and Philosophy
- Bauhaus was founded on the idea of creating a "total" work of art, where form follows function, and all arts and crafts were seen as part of a larger whole.
- Its curriculum was structured around the idea that design should be accessible to all, leading to the democratization of art through industrial methods.
Evolution
- In 1925, due to political pressure from the local government, the school moved to Dessau where it continued to thrive under Gropius and later under Hannes Meyer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
- The Dessau years are often considered the most productive, with significant architectural projects like the Bauhaus Building and the Masters' Houses.
- The school moved again to Berlin in 1932 but was closed by the Nazi Party in 1933 due to its perceived radicalism and modernism.
Influence and Legacy
- Bauhaus ideas spread worldwide as its faculty and students were dispersed by the political climate in Germany. Many went to the United States, influencing Modernist Architecture and design education.
- Its emphasis on functional design, simplicity, and the integration of art and industry has had a lasting impact on contemporary design, architecture, and even graphic design.
Notable Figures
Key Concepts
- Gesamtkunstwerk - The concept of total work of art, where every element of a building or product is designed as a cohesive whole.
- Form follows function - The principle that the shape of a building or object should be primarily based on its intended function or purpose.
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