Several New Aspects of the Bauhaus School for Modern Interior Design
The Bauhaus Archive in Berlin, which houses the world's largest collection related to the history of this architectural school, celebrated its centenary in 2019. For this significant event, the archive presented 100 new objects. Modern Bauhaus-style furniture for homes and offices has acquired new features today while preserving the main principles of Bauhaus. Let's go back in time and look at what Bauhaus design was like in the 1920s-1930s and why it remains relevant today.
Creating True Masterpieces of Functional Design
"True design begins with understanding human needs. Everything else is just decoration." – Walter Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus school
"Practicality, functionality, simplicity" - these words can be called the unofficial motto of everything created at the Bauhaus architectural school. The archive presents household items created under the influence of this philosophy: lamps, carpets, and Bauhaus-style furniture. The kitchen designed by Marcel Breuer in 1929 is an excellent example of how, in an era when more and more women were striving for professional development, Bauhaus interior design was created to save time on household chores.
When the Light Went Out: Lamps as the Embodiment of Bauhaus Style
The famous Wagenfeld lamp became the first lamp developed within the Bauhaus style. And the Bormann lamp, released in 1932, was the last. It was designed and created in the Bauhaus workshop in Dessau. The features of this lamp include a cable neatly hidden in a metal tube that serves as a stand, as well as a lampshade that can be adjusted to change the brightness of light – a vivid example of functional design characteristic of the Bauhaus school.
Geometry in Toys: Minimalism for the Little Ones
From Bauhaus architecture, we move on to toys. In 1923, Alma Buscher created this toy ship using geometric forms in design, originally developed by Friedrich Fröbel in the 19th century. She was involved in designing a children's room in the "Am Horn" house in Weimar, which was a striking example of Bauhaus style. In the Bauhaus Archive in Berlin, you can see the original large toy from this house – an example of how Bauhaus principles were applied even in the creation of children's toys.
The Art of Architecture: Modernism in its Pure Form
"Architecture is the will of an epoch translated into space. Living. Changing. New." – Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, director of the Bauhaus school from 1930-1933
"The ultimate goal of the creative process is building" - as proclaimed in the manifesto of the Bauhaus architectural school. In Weimar, projects by architects such as Farkas Molnár remained unrealized. But when the Bauhaus school moved to Dessau in 1926, its own faculty of architecture was established here. The Bauhaus archives provided the Bauhaus exhibition with numerous drawings and sketches related to modernism in architecture.
Rethinking the Social Role of Bauhaus Design
Modern researchers increasingly view the Bauhaus school not just as a school of architecture and applied arts, but as a social project that sought to change the world through Bauhaus design. A new aspect is considered to be the emphasis on how the Bauhaus members strived to influence people's lifestyle by creating accessible, functional, universal solutions — from cutlery to housing.
"Bauhaus is not a style, but a way of thinking. It is a philosophy of creating the surrounding space that remains relevant today." — Walter Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus school
Now this idea is more relevant than ever: minimalism in interior design, sustainable consumption, eco-design — all of these have their roots in the Bauhaus philosophy of practicality and aesthetics.
Women of Bauhaus: Forgotten and Returned
For a long time, the Bauhaus school was perceived as a male space, associated with Gropius, Mies van der Rohe, and others. But now historians are rediscovering the contribution of women designers and artists to the history of Bauhaus.
| Name | Field | Contribution to Bauhaus Style |
|---|---|---|
| Anni Albers | Textile Design | Pioneer of textile design whose works influenced the industrial production of fabrics |
| Gunta Stölzl | Weaving Workshop | Headed the weaving workshop, shaping aesthetic and technical standards of textile design |
| Marianne Brandt | Product Design | Innovator in product design (her teapots and lamps became icons of modernism) |
| Alma Buscher | Toy Design | Created revolutionary toys, applying the principles of functional design for children |
The table above demonstrates how diverse the female contribution was to the development of Bauhaus principles. Today these names are sounding louder, and museums are actively including their works in permanent collections, allowing a new look at the history of Bauhaus.
Applying Bauhaus Style in Modern Interior Design
Applying the principles of the Bauhaus school in modern interior design allows you to create a functional, aesthetic, and comfortable space. Here's how you can use Bauhaus style in interior design:
- Minimalism and functionality – each item should serve its function
- Geometric shapes – straight lines, circles, triangles in furniture and decor
- Basic colors – red, blue, yellow combined with neutral tones
- Open space – free layout, lots of light
- Industrial materials – glass, metal, concrete in the interior
These principles are easily adaptable to modern needs while maintaining the unique aesthetics of Bauhaus style. They allow you to create an interior that will remain relevant regardless of fashion trends.
Success Story: How Bauhaus Style Transformed a Kyiv Apartment
The Kovalchuk family from Kyiv had long been unable to decide on a style for their new 85 sq.m. apartment. They wanted space, light, and functionality without unnecessary details. After consulting with designers, it was decided to use Bauhaus principles in the interior.
"We doubted that the classic Bauhaus style could be cozy, but the result exceeded all expectations," says Iryna Kovalchuk. "Open layout, functional Bauhaus-style furniture, geometric shapes, and accents in the form of primary colors created not only an aesthetic but also an incredibly practical space. Every centimeter is used for its intended purpose, while the apartment looks spacious and filled with light."
Conclusion: The Legacy of Bauhaus in the Modern World
Bauhaus is not just a page in the history of design, but a living organism whose roots penetrate into the present and future. New research, feminist and postcolonial perspectives open up a multi-layered, ambiguous, and inspiring picture of the Bauhaus school.
The principles of Bauhaus style continue to inspire modern designers and architects. Functionality, clean lines, the use of modern materials and technologies – all this makes Bauhaus design relevant today, more than a hundred years after the school was founded.
By studying the history of Bauhaus, we not only familiarize ourselves with the legacy of the past but also discover new possibilities for creating functional, aesthetic, and comfortable spaces that meet the needs of modern humans.