Bauhaus in Weimar - Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar, Dessau and Bernau
Weimar, Germany
19.06.2018
The Bauhaus, formally the Staatliches Bauhaus in Weimar, founded in Weimar, Germany, in 1919, represents a pivotal moment in the history of art, design, and architecture. This revolutionary school, whose heritage in Weimar is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, profoundly shaped the aesthetics and functional principles of the 20th century, advocating for a holistic approach that united art and craft with technology.
The Vision of Walter Gropius
Under the visionary leadership of its founder, architect Walter Gropius, the Bauhaus sought to bridge the gap between artistic expression and practical application. Gropius's manifesto declared the ultimate goal of all creative activity to be the building, aiming to unite all arts and crafts into a new architectural synthesis. This innovative philosophy aimed to create a "total work of art" where every object, from a spoon to a city, contributed to a harmonious living environment.
Revolutionary Pedagogy
The school attracted an array of influential artists and thinkers who developed ground-breaking curricula. Masters like Lyonel Feininger, Johannes Itten, Paul Klee, and Wassily Kandinsky taught foundational courses, guiding students through experimental workshops that focused on materials, color theory, and form. This radical pedagogical approach fostered a new generation of designers and architects, emphasizing hands-on experience and interdisciplinary collaboration over traditional academic methods.
Architectural Legacy in Weimar
While the Bauhaus movement's most iconic buildings are often associated with its later phase in Dessau, its foundational years in Weimar left significant architectural imprints. The former Grand Ducal Saxon School of Arts and Crafts building, designed by Henry van de Velde, became the primary location, where early innovations took place. Today, this complex is part of the Bauhaus University Weimar. A prime example of early Bauhaus experimental architecture in Weimar is the Haus am Horn, built in 1923 for the first Bauhaus exhibition. This experimental house showcased the school's commitment to functional design, prefabrication, and innovative construction methods for modern living, demonstrating a compact, economical residential design.
UNESCO Recognition and Enduring Influence
Although the school controversially relocated to Dessau in 1925 due to political pressure, its legacy in Weimar as the birthplace of modern design principles remains undeniable. The UNESCO World Heritage site 'Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar, Dessau and Bernau' specifically acknowledges the formative years in Weimar, recognizing buildings like the Bauhaus University Weimar (encompassing the former Grand Ducal Saxon School of Arts and Crafts) and the Haus am Horn for their outstanding universal value and profound influence on modern architecture, industrial design, and art education worldwide.
Further Reading
Between 1919 and 1933 the Bauhaus movement revolutionized architectural and aesthetic thinking and practice in the 20th century. The Bauhaus buildings in Weimar, Dessau and Bernau are fundamental representatives of Classical Modernism, directed towards a radical renewal of architecture and design. This property, which was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1996, originally comprised buildings located in Weimar (Former Art School, the Applied Art School and the Haus Am Horn) and Dessau (Bauhaus Building, the group of seven Masters' Houses). The 2017 extension includes the Houses with Balcony Access in Dessau and the ADGB Trade Union School in Bernau as important contributions to the Bauhaus ideas of austere design, functionalism and social reform.
Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar, Dessau and Bernau are World Heritage Sites in Germany, comprising six separate sites which are associated with the Bauhaus art school. It was designated in 1996 with four initial sites, and in 2017 two further sites were added.
The Bauhaus was only in operation from 1919 until 1933 and it educated no more than 1,250 students, of whom only 155 actually graduated with a Bauhaus Diploma. Nevertheless, the school revolutionized 20th century architectural and aesthetic thinking and practice.
"[The] buildings designed by the masters of the Bauhaus are fundamental representatives of Classical Modernism... For this reason, they are important monuments not only for art and culture, but also for the historic ideas of the 20th century." – Application for the extension of the UNESCO World Heritage Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar and Dessau, German delegation to UNESCO, December 2015.
