Module 7

I found the immigration of many of the Bauhaus designers to be fascinating. I of course had heard of scientists and the like coming to America to escape from Nazi Germany, but had given little thought to the artists and designers of the country and the effect they had on American design. The fact that key figures in the movement such as Groipus and Marcel Breuer were teaching at Harvard and Moholy-Nagy created the Institute of Design in Chicago was mind opening for me. I have to say I like their tenet of form following function. The sleekness and simplicity of their designs is an interesting juxtaposition to the heavy ornamentation and decoration of the Art Nouveau movement, for instance.

And their application of design to architecture is also something that is inspiring. Below I have several images of the Dessau Bauhaus.

The building itself has a very fluid yet machine-like dynamic to it. The perfect center for a movement that was characterized by the unity of Art and Technology.

I also love the idea of such a place being a wellspring of ideas and innovation, a school based on innovation instead of stagnation and dogmatic thinking.