New European Bauhaus
The New European Bauhaus is an initiative launched by the European Commission in September 2020 as part of the European Green Deal. It is a creative and interdisciplinary movement aimed at reimagining and redesigning the way we live, work, and interact with our environment.
The initiative draws inspiration from the historical Bauhaus movement, which emerged in Germany in the early 20th century and sought to integrate art, design, and technology into everyday life.
Founded in Weimar in 1919 by the German architect Walter Gropius (1883–1969), the main aim of the Bauhaus was to transform the physical world to express the interconnectedness of all artistic disciplines. The school was inspired by Expressionist art, the architectural designs of Frank Lloyd Wright, and the work of designer William Morris. The founders acted with the dream of bringing together artists and craftsmen. This movement encouraged collaboration between instructors and students in design studios and workshops.
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In 1925 the institution moved to Dessau, and in 1932 it moved to Berlin. Unfortunately, due to Nazi pressure, the Bauhaus school was eventually closed. The Bauhaus movement advocated a geometric and abstract approach to design, devoid of strong emotions or historical references. His visual style still serves as a source of inspiration for architects, designers and artists.
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Some important figures associated with the original Bauhaus include:
Walter Gropius: Gropius, the founder and first director of the Bauhaus, advocated uniting all art forms under one roof and that design should serve a social purpose.
Wassily Kandinsky: A famous painter and one of the school's early instructors, Kandinsky discovered abstract art and color theory and made major contributions to the artistic philosophy of the Bauhaus.
Paul Klee: Another important artist and Bauhaus teacher, Klee's work combined abstraction and expressionism and inspired students to explore new artistic approaches.
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe: Known as Mies, he succeeded Gropius and became a pioneering architect known for his minimalist and functional designs.
Marcel Breuer: An influential furniture designer and architect, Breuer's use of steel tubes in his furniture design has remained a symbol of the Bauhaus legacy.