2. Introduction
Although the name Bauhaus is well known internationally, few people are truly aware
both of the complexity of its history and the diversity of its architectural legacy.
Bauhaus is a German expression meaning “house for building”. Evolving out of the
“Arts and Crafts” movement, the Bauhaus school was founded by Walter Gropius
in 1919, bringing with him lessons learned under Peter Behrens, a highly influential
German architect whose studio helped to develop Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (head of
the Bauhaus School, 1930-1933), and Le Corbusier, a leader in the French Modernist
movement. Walter Gropius and the two subsequent heads of the school, the architects
Hannes Meyer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, introduced principles that shaped the
foundation of modern architecture. The Bauhaus
masters emphasized the creation of classical
forms without extraneous ornamentation;
embracing technology, their philosophy stressed
the search for solutions to contemporary design
problems in urban planning, housing and
utilitarian mass-production.
Bauhaus twenty-21 “An Ongoing Legacy”
will not only convey the architectural history, but
also illustrate the enduring philosophies of the
Bauhaus. The exhibition, by creating a visual as
well as theoretical dialogue between the timeless
modernism of Bauhaus architecture and the
visions of contemporary practitioners, will offer a unique perspective on Bauhaus design
philosophy as it relates to architecture and its relevance in today’s society.
Synopsis
Bauhaus twenty-21 will tell the history of the Bauhaus as well as the emergence and
implementation of its architectural and design principles as they relate to architecture,
from the origins of the school in Weimar to its closing in Berlin in 1933. With a selection
of twelve of the most prominent architectural achievements of the Bauhaus, as seen
through the lens of photographer Gordon Watkinson, the exhibition will illustrate both the
founding architecture philosophy of the Bauhaus and its timeless modernism. Beyond
the historical perspective, Bauhaus twenty-21 will present the continuing legacy of the
Bauhaus, featuring an international group of well-known architects discussing major prin-
ciples developed by the Bauhaus and how these translate into their work.
1 Bauhaus twenty-21 “An Ongoing Legacy”
3. Detailed Description
The exhibition will open with an introduction providing the historical, artistic and
ideological background of the Bauhaus. Using a rich selection of digitized archival
material, it will depict the ideas and events behind the creation of the School in Weimar
(1919) as well as the philosophies developed by the Bauhaus under the leadership of
the three school directors: Walter Gropius (1919-1928), Hannes Meyer (1928-1930), and
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1930-1933), until its dissolution in Berlin (1933).
Following the introduction the exhibition will focus on
twelve of the most iconic achievements of Bauhaus
architecture built before 1933: House at the Horn (Georg
Muche/Adolf Meyer, Weimar, 1923), Office of the
Bauhaus Director (Walter Gropius, Weimar, 1923-31),
Bauhaus School (Walter Gropius, Dessau, 1925-26),
Masters’ Houses (Walter Gropius, Dessau, 1925-26),
Dessau-Törten Settlement (Walter Gropius, Dessau,
1926-28), Balcony Access Houses (Hannes Meyer,
Dessau, 1929-30), Employment Office (Walter Gropius,
Dessau, 1927-29), Steel House (Georg Muche/Richard
Paulick, Dessau, 1926-27), German Trade Union
Federation School (Hannes Meyer, Bernau, 1928-30),
Werkbund Settlement Am Weißenhof with Apartment
House (Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Stuttgart, 1927),
German Pavilion for the 1929 World Exhibition (Ludwig
Mies van der Rohe, Barcelona, 1929), Tugendhat
House (Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Brno, 1930).
A selection of digitized historical documents such as blueprints, plans, sketches, and
drawings, next to short texts from Michael Siebenbrodt, will highlight each of the build-
ings’ most significant architectural characteristics, illustrating their innovative design and
technical realizations, while Gordon Watkinson’s interpretative photographs of each of
the buildings as they stand today will offer an up-to-date perspective and demonstrate
the timelessness of these architectural landmarks.
Alongside each of the Bauhaus buildings the exhibition will showcase a single project
by renowned contemporary practitioners, such as Werner Aisslinger (Berlin), Alberto
Campo Baeza (Madrid), Dietmar Eberle (Lochau), Carlos Ferrater (Barcelona), Sean
Godsell (Melbourne), Michael D. Kirchmann/SOM (New York), Mathias Klotz (Santiago
de Chile), Shinichi Ogawa (Hiroshima/Tokyo), and Werner Sobek (Stuttgart). Illustrating
the ongoing legacy of Bauhaus principles and forms in 21st century architecture, each of
these contemporary buildings will be featured through a selection of digitized blueprints,
plans, and sketches, next to a short text by its respective architect, as well as a sequence
of Gordon Watkinson’s photographs.
2 Bauhaus twenty-21 “An Ongoing Legacy”
4. Interspersed between the sections dedicated to the buildings the exhibition will present
contemporary room like settings showcasing reproductions of Bauhaus furniture and
objects designed before 1933 and still manufactured today by companies such as Knoll,
Tecnolumen, Tecta, and Thonet. These installations, in which copies of the companion
publication will also be on display, will invite the visitors to interact and consciously
experience a unique environment specifically conceived for the exhibition, capturing
the timeless character of these early 20th century seminal designs. (This portion of the
exhibition can be edited or omitted for smaller venues).
Conception
Bauhaus twenty-21 “An Ongoing Legacy” has been initiated by New
York based photographer Gordon Watkinson. Mr. Watkinson has worked
as a commercial photographer for over 15 years, photographing notable
sports figures, fashion models and directed broadcast commercials as
well as promotional videos for large commercial clients. Recently, Mr.
Watkinson has concentrated on photographing architecture and design,
both as a fine artist and as a commercial photographer. Since the late
1990s he has been traveling around Europe photographing all of the
major Bauhaus buildings designed before the School closed in 1933 for
his project Bauhaus twenty-21.
Curatorial Advisor
The exhibition has been developed with the curatorial advice of Michael
Siebenbrodt, Director of the Bauhaus-Museum in Weimar. Mr. Siebenbrodt is the
co-author of The Bauhaus-Museum: The Kunstsammlungen in Weimar (1996), a
chronological survey of art and art schools in Weimar between 1900 and 1930, and an
overview of the prominent teachers and their work and theories. From 1985 to 1988, he
was a researcher for the “Zentrum für Gestaltung” at the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation
and during his last year there was head of the collection.
3 Bauhaus twenty-21 “An Ongoing Legacy”
5. Specifications
Photographs by Gordon Watkinson: 110-140
Digitized Technical Documents:
Historical: 35-50
Contemporary: 25-30
Furniture & Objects (reproductions): 12-25 *
Space Requirements:
400 m2 – 500 m2 / 4300 – 5300 sq feet (with furniture)
200 m2 – 250 m2 / 2000 – 2700 sq feet (without furniture)
Security: Limited
Participation Fee: Upon request
Availability: Winter 2008/2009 – Open End
* Depending on the exhibition space available
About Foto+Synthesis
The primary purpose of Foto+Synthesis is to present
noteworthy national and international programs in the form of
exhibitions, educational activities and companion publications.
To this end Foto+Synthesis programs will encompass a
wide array of topics, bringing together different ideas and
influences from the particular perspective of the photographic
image. Foto+Synthesis, in addition to its own curatorial work,
will present projects developed in collaboration with the
academics, artists, collectors, curators, gallerists, institutions,
and organizations that make up the photographic community
at large.
Through its programming Foto+Synthesis will attempt to promote greater understanding
of cultural, historical, social, political, and environmental issues and how they manifest
themselves in contemporary thinking.
Contact
Alexandra Le Faou
Foto+Synthesis e.V. P +1 646 652 6865 (US)
alexandra@fotosynthesis.com P +49 30 67 51 18 53 (DE)
4 Bauhaus twenty-21 “An Ongoing Legacy”
