Artists are those who see the same things as others but interpret them differently. These interpretations have radically changed the concept of art. Bauhaus is a German expression meaning “house for building” or “architecture house.” Post World War I, the German economy was collapsing as an after effect of its crushing defeat. Poverty and inflation and impact of the war created consciousness among the people which strongly influenced the Art, Architecture and Design. This saw the rise of the Bauhaus movement, which was a reaction to social change and which aspired for aesthetic relevance. The Bauhaus style reflected purism, emphasizing straight smooth edges and slim forms.
While Germany was recovering from the loss of the First World War, Architect Walter Gropius was appointed to head a new institution in an aim to rebuild the country. Bauhaus is the famous German school of Design that influenced modern architecture, and industrial, graphic and theater design. It is based on the principles of British designer William Morris, stating that art should meet the needs of society and there be no distinction between fine arts and practical crafts. Modern art and architecture should be responsive to needs and influence the modern industrial world. Good designs were ones that possessed both aesthetics and quality engineering. The Bauhaus style was also known as the “International Style,” which saw the absenteeism of ornaments and ostentatious facades. These architects rejected “bourgeois” style which used cornices, eaves and decorative details, as they believed in Classical architecture in the purest form, without any ornamentation. Bauhaus buildings include flat roofs, smooth facades and cubic shapes. The colors primarily used are white, gray, beige or black. The furniture was functional and rooms sparsely furnished, bringing in hygienic freshness; Shining steel was observed as a material for furniture.
With the emergence of the Nazis, the Bauhaus school was dissolved. Walter Gropius and other Bauhaus pioneers migrated to the United States, where the term “International Style” came into existence as the American form of Bauhaus architecture. This became the favored style for office buildings and upscale homes. An example of this style is the bronze and glass Seagram Building in New York. Bauhaus influence is also very evident in the city of Tel-Aviv, Israel which includes the largest collection of buildings built in the International Style, anywhere in the world.
Inspired by the movement to free architecture from the reins of ornamental design, a British Rock band named itself Bauhaus. Popular in the 1980s, they are considered the first gothic rock band, combining punk music, glam rock, funk and dub to create a dark, but very passionate sound track which appealed to music patrons looking for something new. This style influenced a wave of post-punk groups and created a style which eventually came to be known as Gothic rock. |
