Bauhaus

Bauhaus was one of the most definitive design movements of the modern age, reaching its peak between the 2 world wars. The word Bauhaus name, mostly translated from German, means house of construction or school of building, even though there was no architecture as such within the first years of its existence. Bauhaus was a new type of art school, historically European art academies thought each design subject separately, the Bauhaus offered foundation training in many design disciplines, they believed in verity. Understanding mass production was part of the curriculum and the school sought to develop students with art and craft whilst embracing new technologies. It was also the beginning of the art school as an alternative way of life. Germany at that time was a rather conservative place though. 

Bauhaus initial idea was to reject the idea of decorative art and replace it with minimalism in mass production. Its main inspiration came from the De Stijl movement which was a modernist movement founded by Theo Van Doesbeurg, its characteristics were the use of primary colours and horizontal and vertical lines and rectangular forms. The Bauhaus focused on intense form, absolute clarity, and distinctive visual identity.

Some Important Highlights in the Bouhaus history

•1919 – Bauhaus founded in Weinmar, Gremany. By Walter Gropius

•1921 – Theo Van Doesburg (de Stijl) visited the school and thought them ideas from futurism, constructivism, surrealism and dada. Bauhaus also starts to offer more varied courses. Women also are now allowed to enroll.

•1923- Johannes itten Leaves, being replaced by Moholy-Nagy who introduced now typography.

•1924- Bauhaus moved to Dessau because of funding problems.

•1926- Dessau Bauhaus finished being built.

•1928- Gropius resigned along with Moholy-Nagy and Bayer. Hannes Meyer became director.

•1930- Hannes Meyer dismissed as director. Ludwig Meis Becomes director of the school.

•1931-1933 Van Der Rohe cut out things from the curriculum. Due to lack of funds the Dessau Bauhaus was closed. Van Der Rohe moved the bauhaus to berlin (only lasted for a short time)

•1933 Nazis closed the school

•1933 onwards – Moholy-Nagy established the Bauhaus in Chicago which is now called the The Institute of Design

Characteristics of Bauhaus

•Geometric, functional and modern

•Order, asymmetry

•Rectangular grid structure

•Horizontals and verticals were dominant

•Circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, bars, and 

rules to unify or separate elements versus being used 

for decoration

•Extreme contrast in type size and weight to achieve 

various degrees of emphasis

•Typography without capitals - San Serif

•Introduction of flush left - rag right typography

•Copy rotated 90 degrees

•Only structurally essential components used.

•Elementary forms and the use of black plus one

 bright hue