Dessau: Bauhaus

1925 – 1926

Architect: Walter Gropius

Gropiusallee 38, Dessau, Germany

The Bauhaus building was completed in Dessau, Germany, between 1925 and 1926, according to plans by architect Walter Gropius.

Building

The architecture is characterised by reinforced concrete and glass, which create complex spatial and functional relationships. The supporting skeleton of reinforced concrete is visible throughout the building, allowing function and aesthetics to become one.

The building, constructed in the International Style, consists of five wings arranged in a functional structure:

The School of Applied Arts and Crafts wing, the workshop wing with its distinctive glass curtain wall and the studio building, which housed residential studios for students.

The craftsmen’s school’s north wing and the workshop wing are connected by a two-storey bridge. This was designed to house administrative rooms and Gropius‘ construction office.

A flat building between the workshop wing and the studio building houses a stage, an auditorium and the Bauhaus refectory.

Construction

The workshop wing’s wall, which was completely made of glass, caused a sensation in its time.

The building’s supports and floor slabs are set back from the façade so that the glass apron extends uninterrupted over all three floors and the entire length of the building.

However, the delicate glass façade caused major problems. In summer, the building heated up considerably due to direct sunlight.

A necessary sun protection system of curtains destroyed the intended transparency.

In winter, the building cooled down quickly due to the single glazing and required heavy heating.

Ventilation is provided by mechanically controlled louvred sashes.

Restoration and Renovation

The building was restored and partially modernised in 1976. Between 1996 and 2006, it underwent further restoration and repairs in accordance with the principles of monument preservation.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Since 1996, the building complex has been part of the Bauhaus UNESCO World Heritage Site. This site also includes the Haus am Horn, the art school building, the main building of the Bauhaus University in Weimar, the Masters’ Houses in Dessau, and, since 2017, the arcade houses in Dessau, as well as the ADGB Trade Union School in Bernau.