Bauhaus Dessau
Walter Gropius
Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
Photography: Oliver Lins
Bauhaus Dessau is a landmark building complex located in Dessau-Roßlau, Germany. It is considered one of the most important examples of pre-war modernist architecture in Europe and was established as a school for the Bauhaus School of Art, Design, and Architecture.
Designed by Walter Gropius, the building was constructed between 1925 and 1926. Its innovative design, featuring a flat roof, glass curtain walls, and functional layout, helped to solidify the Bauhaus’s reputation as an icon of modernism. The nearby Masters’ Houses, also designed by Gropius, further cemented the Bauhaus’s status as a center of architectural experimentation.
The Bauhaus Dessau building consists of five functionally structured parts, arranged in a series of wings. The reinforced concrete-frame structures were designed to be flexible and adaptable, with no traditional “front” or “back.” The workshop wing, with its distinctive glass curtain wall, was inspired by the industrial architecture of factories rather than the traditional styles of academic buildings. The Atelierhaus, located in the north wing, provided dormitory studios for the students.
The Bauhaus School, which existed for only 14 years, had a profound impact on the development of modern architecture, design, and art. Its unique approach to education, which emphasized collaboration and experimentation, helped to shape the modern world as we know it. The Bauhaus Dessau building remains a testament to the school’s legacy and continues to inspire architects and designers today.
