Bauhaus began in 1919 as a school for arts and crafts combined. Under its first director, Walter Gropius, Bauhaus extended this to architecture. While the school itself closed up for only 14 years under pressure on the Nazis, its students and teachers continued to spread its ethos in exile. Robin Scholzenfried, Tungen Reeder in 20th century modernism at the Courtauld Institute of Art,. Alan Powers, history leader at the London School of Architecture and Michael White, Professor of the History of Art at the University of York.
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Bauhaus which began in 1919 in Weimar, Germany, as a school for arts and crafts combined, and went on to be famous around the world. Under its first director, Walter Gropius, the Bauhaus moved to Dessau and extended its range to architecture and became associated with a series of white, angular, flat-roofed buildings reproduced from Shanghai to Chicago, aimed for modern living. The school closed after only 14 years while at a third location, Berlin, under pressure from the Nazis, yet its students and teachers continued to spread its ethos in exile, making it even more influential.
The image above is of the Bauhaus Building, Dessau, designed by Gropius and built in 1925-6
With
Robin Schuldenfrei
Tangen Reader in 20th Century Modernism at The Courtauld Institute of Art
Alan Powers
History Leader at the London School of Architecture
And
Michael White
Professor of the History of Art at the University of York
Producer: Simon Tillotson