Bauhaus

The Bauhaus was an educational institution established by Walter Gropius whose key principle was mainly to endorse art into industry. The meaning of Bauhaus is ‘building house’ and the aim was to reform some design aspects while educating the students to achieve goals and be able to work in various workshops. Of all the lecturers that taught in the Bauhaus we find artists like Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee.

The main inspirations of the Bauhaus were taken from the Arts and Crafts Movement and William Morris beliefs, Henry Van de Velde and influences from Constructivism and De Stijl which were concurrent Modern movements at that time. Later in 1925, the Bauhaus moved from Weimar to Dessau where Gropius had to rebuild the school and this time showing clear Modernism through the architecture. This could be seen in the materials he used and methods applied to build this school from its foundations. The Steel-frame construction and glass curtain walls make the building look rational and of high standard which could be distinguished form the previous one in Weimar.

 Bauhaus in Weimar

 Bauhaus in Dessau

Marienne Brandt is also a significant figure in the Bauhaus due to the fact that she contributed in the metal worshop. Brandt is in fact the first women that had ever worked in a metal workshop. Women were considered fragile and vulnerable at that time so they just contributed to the textile workshop. Brandt based her principles on industrial forms and promoted functionality in her work.

The following are some examples of her work whose attention is deviated on its function and simple forms.

  

In fact, the major attention on this tea/coffee set is more given to the function and ergonomics rather than on its aesthetic beauty and ornament. This was the goal of the Bauhaus not to rest attached with the traditional craftsmanship but to be able to create designs which are possibly mass produced in industry.

Another important figure was Marcel Breuer who also was a lecturer in the Baushaus. He produced 3D designs, mostly chairs such as the Slatted Chair in around 1924. The inclined seat which is also elastic, was aimed to contribute for the ergonomic aspect of the posture but still, compared to nowadays chairs, many other aspects of ergonomics lack in this design although it is a good development. We can also point out some influences from De Stijl which is almost similar to the Red and Blue Chair by Rietveld due to the fact that it is made out wood (the same material) and geometric forms.

Sletted Chair by Marcel Breuer 1922-1924

  

Today’s furniture designers are more aware of the health issues concerning our back and neck pains since we spend so much time working sitting down in front of a computer or desk. Hence, they are entirely focused on the ergonomic aspect and its function which accommodates the human needs. People are being educated and aware in keeping a good posture especially when working which has become a very important issue nowadays.

Reference

Fiell, C. and Fiell, P. (1999). Design of the 20th century. Ko¨ln: Taschen.

Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2015. The Bauhaus, 1919–1933 [ONLINE] Available at: <http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/bauh/hd_bauh.htm.>  [Accessed 23 January 2015].