The Bauhaus buildings are the most important architectural evidence of its history and have been preserved and made accessible to the public as works of art. In addition, the masterpieces of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, even those that date before his time as Bauhaus director, are considered symbols of Bauhaus architectural style until this day.
Walter Gropius produced his first main work together with Adolf Meyer in Berlin, the Fagus Shoe Factory, which became an icon of modern architecture. In his second main work, the office and factory buildings for the Werkbund exhibition, Gropius showed a forward-looking concept in his architecture, symbolizing the opportunities of the industrial society to express its culture and intellect with innovative design and modern business management in its buildings.
Facing the housing issue at that time, Gropius focused on standardization and industrialization to increase quality and efficiency in his program in 1910 with “Art and technology – a new unity” as the central idea. In 1919, he underlined the central position of architecture in the Bauhaus program, aiming for “reunification of all artistic disciplines into a new art of building”.
The Bauhaus method during the time that Gropius was director consisted on a constant practice for the students in all fields, such as, design, model making and real construction. The students were always in contact with the projects being developed by Gropius and the other teachers. When Mies van der Rohe came to be director, however, he restructured the education system reducing drastically the workshop time and focusing on building and furniture studies, with less connection to practice.
“The Bauhaus architects contributed decisively to the development of New Building in Germany and elsewhere in Europe with their international network as members of architectural organizations and associations.”
Siebenbrodt, M, & Schöbe, L 2012, Temptis : Bauhaus, Parkstone International, New York, NY, USA. Available from: ProQuest ebrary. [7 January 2015].