When the city of Dessau agreed to fund the building of a new complex for the Bauhaus School, Walter Gropius moved his architectural office from Potsdam to Dessau in order to design it. The complex was not the work solely of Gropius, rather it was a collective effort from the Gropius Office. It became a prototype for industrial techniques in building and one of the great buildings of the twentieth century.
The facade of the workshops building is a ground-breaking curtain wall construction. It is breathtaking to experience it both from inside and out. The influence of the building is obvious in towns and cities across the world and it is amazing to think that the building dates from 1926. Visitors can enter the canteen in the basement or the shop on the ground floor for free, sit admiring from the outside cafe tables or book a guided or self-guide tour to see the upper floors and the other buildings.
The building(s) have so many significant facades that there is no dominant view of the complex and no main entrance, this reflects Gropius rejection of symmetry. Each section of the complex had a specific function, the workshops, the studio, the classrooms; and all have their own facades and multiple photo opportunities. Gropius was a big fan of aerial shots of the complex, which he felt illustrated the clear distinctions between the different sections of the complex. Proximity to the Junkers aircraft factory, meant that lots of early photos of the building surrounded by fields still exist today.
After the Bauhaus’ closure in 1932 the building served various purposes as part of Germany’s war effort and suffered some bomb damage. Dessau was then part of the former East Germany (GDR) and had various uses and alterations were made. Restorations began in 1976 and a second post-unification restoration was complete in 1999. The site is now a UNESCO world heritage site and open to the public. Not only are there tours, events and a cafe at the Bauhaus, but the Studio Complex is open for visitors to stay the night. A visit to the Bauhaus Site is on most designers bucket list, staying the night where Bauhaus students stayed takes the visit to a new level.
There are also numerous other sites within walking distance, the recreated Masters houses and the Kornhous, a bar and restaurant, 2km away on a beautiful bend on the River Elbe. The nearby Törten Housing Estate was also hugely influential. Finally, not yet open at the time of our visit was the new Bauhaus Museum Dessau in the town centre. This should be open for the formal centenary celebrations.
Date of visit: May 2019
Visit from €7-14.00 (Multiple tour types, tours in English are only on Fridays)
Stay overnight €60.00 details on staying the night in the Bauhaus in the Studio Block
Gropiusallee 38, 06846 Dessau-Roßlau
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