Bauhuas

School in Germany founded by Walter Gropius to create a new, formal language of design and to unify art, craft, and industry. Produced and sold many products. Located in Weimar 1919-1925, Dessau 1925-1932, and Berlin 1932-33. Began experimenting with expression, but ultimately became function-driven design. Produced and employed some of the 20th Century's most in"uential artists, designers and architects. (Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, Marcel Breuer, Mies Van der Rohe, Wilhelm Wagenfeld, Max Bill, Josef Albers, Lazlo Maholy-Nagy) Closed due to pressure from Nazi Party.

Bauhaus 1919-1933

While the Bauhaus school was relatively short-lived, considered 'fringe' in Germany, and !lled with administrative upheaval, it's impact on design in the 20th Century is unquestionable. It:

Began to emphasize functionalism in design, formalized the education of design, Informed design and architecture in the West

Irish-born modernist designer and architect whose career was spent in Paris, France. (profession dominated by males) Started working with Art Deco lacquer in 1907, but developed a series of modern furniture design classics. Work was not fully recognized until the 1960's. The Royal Society of Arts appointed her a Royal Designer for Industry in 1972.

Eileen Gray 1878-1976

Trained as a student at Bauhaus, then was appointed as head of printing. Designed 'universal' san-serif typeface that combined upper and lower into all lowercase. Became a leader in formal, modernist typography and graphic design. Left Bauhaus to became art director for Vogue magazine in Berlin, and later became one of the leading graphic and communication designers in the U.S. Moved to Aspen, Colorado in 1946.

Herbert Bayer 1900-1985

Swiss-born architect, artist, and urban planner who began his career in Peter Behrens' office in Germany, and is considered one of the most important architects of the 20th Century. (theorist architect who in!uenced the Bauhaus) Gained worldwide acclaim for designing the Pavilion de L' Esprit Nouveau for Paris Exposition des Arts Décoratifs of 1925. 'Clarity, transparency, and elegance' through Purism. Proposed entire cities to be designed and constructed on rigid modern grid systems creating a 'hyper order' of Modernist urban planning. (Paris)

Le Corbusier 1887-1965 (Charles-Édouard Jeanneret)

Architect who worked for Peter Behrens and created visions of glass high-rises in the 1920's. Head of Bauhaus from 1930 until it closed in 1933. Became director of architecture at Illinois Institute of Technology in 1937. Along with Le Corbusier and Marcel Breuer, became one of the foremost modernist architects of the 20th century. Projects employed innovative use of glass walls, sheer stone, steel girders, with formal subdivision of space throughout interiors and exteriors. "God is in the details" and "less is more" (the latter he attributed to Peter Behrens).

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe 1886-1969

Hungarian painter and designer who replaced Johannes Itten and directed the Bauhaus foundations program and metal workshop. Taught typography, photography, #lm, and stage design form 1923-1928. Pioneered new photography (motion) and photogram (transparency) techniques. (ways of seeing beyond human ability) Designed the Bauhaus books and publications. In 1937 founded 'New Bauhaus' in Chicago that lasted one year. Then founded the 'School of Design' in 1938 that later became the Institute of Design (part of the Illinois Institute of Technology) in Chicago.

László Moholy-Nagy 1895-1946

Bauhaus furniture designer who became one of the 20th century's greatest modernist architects. Commissions from his furniture helped launch his architectural practice. One of the earliest (and youngest) students at the Bauhaus who Gropius later hired to lead the shop. Experimented with tubular steel materials in furniture design after being inspired by the construction of a bicycle. As an outgrowth of this, developed the cantilever design that has become an icon. Also moved to Britain, worked with Isokon, and followed Gropius to teach at Harvard School of Design.

Marcel Breuer 1902-1981

Worked for Peter Behrens, then formed Bauhaus school from remnants of two other schools (Weimar Art Academy and Henry van de Velde's School of Industrial Arts). In"uential in attracting Avant Garde faculty to teach as 'Masters' in the Bauhaus. Designed main Bauhaus building in Dessau, that incorporated separate designed spaces for separate functions...a machine for educating design. Fled to Britain in 1934 and worked with Isokon group. Moved to the United States in 1937 to become chair of Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Walter Gropius 1883-1969

Bauhaus student who studied under Moholy-Nagy, and focused on simplicity, and 'visual function' in his work. Wanted to raise the functional standard of common, consumer products. Designed many glass and metal works for #rms in Germany that mainly focused on everyday use items and tabletop items. WMF, Vereinigte Lausitzer Glaswerke (VLG) Many of his designs are icons of the Bauhaus, and are still produced today.

Wilhelm Wagenfeld 1900-1990