A Review on Bauhaus.

Introduction
Bauhaus, formed by the combination of Bauen (to build) and Haus (house) is an institution that
was established in 1919 by German architect Walter Gropius in the city of Weimar. More than an
institution, it was an educational model that aimed to unify design, craft and fine arts and to
provide the skills to artisans and designers to produce according to this new system. Bauhaus
is the combination of related fields like industrial design, furniture design, fine arts and
architecture.

History
The first institute of Bauhaus was in Weimar (from 1919 to 1925) where Gropius laid the
groundwork for the future of Bauhaus. It is where he established ideals that would be
considered visionary for the time. The curriculum included a preliminary course that would put
students through the study of materials, color theory, and formal relationships in preparation
for more specialized studies. Following this preliminary course, the students would then enter
specialized training which included metalworking, cabinetmaking, weaving, pottery,
typography, and wall painting, etc. It brought together visual and performing arts and
emphasized an interdisciplinary approach.

Bauhaus was then shifted to Dessau (from 1925 to 1932) due to the politically motivated close
of Weimar in 1925. At this time, Gropius took the opportunity to design a completely new
building that would embody all the Bauhaus principles. He wanted there to be no distinction
between form and function. The building is known for its clean, cubic shapes, large windows,
and simplicity. The aim of Bauhaus during this time was slightly shifted to focus more on
creating designs that could be mass produced in industries. The school adopted the slogan “Art
into Industry.” Most of the products and designs that are well known today came from Dessau.
The school focused in the production of furniture, light fixtures, mural paintings, etc. An
important part of this school was the cabinetmaking workshop which reconceptualized the
design of furniture, reducing conventional forms into minimalistic and purely functional
entities. Many lightweight, simple and mass producible furniture were created.

Gropius was succeeded by the architect Hannes Meyer during this time. Meyer maintained the
emphasis on mass-producible design and removed parts that he thought were overly
formalized. Additionally, he stressed the social function of architecture and design, favoring
concern for the public good.

Berlin was the last phase of Bauhaus (from 1932 to 1933). Due to mounting pressures from the
Nazis and cutbacks in funding, there was limited work done during this time. Hannes Mayer
was replaced by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe who once again reconfigured the curriculum with
an increased emphasis on architecture. However, no projects were built by him or his students
during this time.
The Bauhaus Style
With its emphasis on function, Bauhaus designs aimed to incorporate art into everyday life
through its feature of balanced and minimalistic forms with little ornamentation. The art of
Bauhaus saw balanced compositions of abstract paintings. Moreover, artists also produced
abstract sculptures, avant-garde collages, and modernist posters featuring bold typography
and blocks of color. Likewise, architecture in this style is also characterized by harmoniously
balanced geometric shapes and an emphasis on function. Featuring open plans and lots of
glass, it is inspired by the simple yet polished look followed by clean lines and functional
design of buildings. The interiors are known for being minimally decorated with iconic
furniture, perfectly relating to their exteriors.

Conclusion
Even after being shut down by the Nazis in 1933, Bauhaus continued to spread through
generations of young designers and architects and is considered as a catalyst for modern
architecture and furniture and as an important influence on mid-20th century painting and
sculpture. Architectural gems like Tel Aviv in Israel were direct results of this movement. The
reason for its widespread appraisal was its reconceptualization of art and design, focus on
functionality, simplicity and cutting down on unnecessary ornamentation which better reflected
the norms of the modern world than its preceding styles of design.

Aashraya Rajkarnikar