The Bauhaus Movement

Now that we've been introduced to some basic concepts for this exploratory summer series of modern and mid-century design let's delve deeper and begin with an overview of the Bauhaus movement.

Officially named Staatliches Bauhaus and founded as a school of the arts in Weimar Germany, the Bauhaus movement beginning in 1919 and continuing through 1933 encompassed a time in the world that would shift and change humanity forever. Though it came against many obstacles from its start including economic hardship and Nazi propaganda, Bauhaus was a highly effective free form platform for the arts that pushed the boundaries of convention. It has since impacted all facets of the

arts including art, architecture, graphic design,interior design and typography.

Ultimately opened as an inspirational push back to the devastation of Germany after World War I and an answer to inflation due to sanctions placed on Germany the guiding principal of the school's students and teachers was "less is more". This discipline would result in minimalistic and modern design but more importantly affordable furnishings and decor for the home. This was possible through simplistic production methods and appealing to consumers with sleek lines and curves that presented a comprehensive "new look". Focusing on Consumer goods, furniture, and the overall concept of interior design Bauhaus was effective in pushing the notion of a cohesive integration of all facets of the home.

An example of a classic design coming from the Bahaus is the Wassily chair, also the B3 chair designed by Marcel Breuer in 1925-1926 while he was at the Bauhaus in Dessau, Germany and the head of the cabinet-making workshop.

Making several moves throughout the country and later settling in Chicago, Illinois the Bauhaus influence reached far beyond their school borders becoming an unparalleled movement that transformed design. It ultimately opened the world to a fresh and edgy look at design through the incorporation of art and architecture in daily life with an obvious approach to modern yet practical design.

Signing off for now,

L.A.