The Bauhaus was a school of art, design, and architecture founded by Walter Gropius in Germany in 1919. The school revolutionized design with its comprehensive approach, breaking away from a past heavy in decoration by combining functionality, simplicity, and the use of industrial materials. The Bauhaus philosophy is based on the idea that design should be accessible, functional, and harmonious, creating a new world for a new man.
The fact that some objects designed at the Bauhaus are still in production demonstrates the school’s lasting importance and impact.
Bauhaus Design: Still Relevant (and in Production) After More Than a Century
From armchairs to lamps, to chess sets and cradles, some Bauhaus design objects are still in production more than a century after the school’s founding. Here are a few items that were originally conceived as prototypes by the Bauhaus and are still produced by prominent manufacturers like Knoll, Fritz Hansen, and Thonet.
Wassily Armchair
The Wassily Chair, designed by Marcel Breuer in 1925-1926, is an icon of modern design created by the renowned architect during his years at the Bauhaus. Its chromed steel tube frame and leather or fabric components reflect a minimalist and functional aesthetic. Breuer drew inspiration from bicycle frames, using industrial materials to create an elegant and durable object. Originally known as Model B3, the chair was dedicated to Wassily Kandinsky, Breuer’s colleague at the Bauhaus. Today, the Wassily Chair is produced by Knoll International and remains one of the hallmark projects of the Bauhaus style.
Barcelona Armchair
The Barcelona Chair was designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich for the 1929 International Exposition in Barcelona. With its stainless steel frame and leather-upholstered seat, this chair exemplifies elegance and simplicity, embodying Mies’s motto “Less is more.” It was designed for the German Pavilion’s exhibition area, one of the first examples of how industrial materials can achieve a high level of elegance and poetry. The chair and the accompanying stools were intended for the Spanish royalty’s rest area, quickly becoming icons of modern design.
Ashtray by Marianne Brandt
Marianne Brandt was one of the most important figures of the Bauhaus and the only woman to lead the institute’s metal workshop. Joining the Bauhaus in 1923, Brandt distinguished herself by her ability to combine aesthetics and functionality, dedicating herself to subjects that were often reserved for her male colleagues. Brandt created a legendary metal tea set that now sells for record prices, as well as this stunning ashtray, reissued by Alessi in celebration of the Bauhaus 100th anniversary.
Keiser Idell Table Lamp
The Kaiser Idell lamp is an icon of 20th-century industrial design, created by Christian Dell, a teacher at the Bauhaus in Weimar. Designed in the 1930s, the lamp is recognized for its elegant and minimalist design, featuring a large lacquered steel shade and a chrome-plated metal structure. The Kaiser Idell, with its sleek aesthetics, embodies the Bauhaus philosophy: functionality, simplicity, and high-quality materials. Available in various models, including table and wall lamps, the Kaiser Idell is marketed today by the Danish manufacturer Fritz Hansen and continues to be a success.
Kaiser Idell Wall Lamp with Spring
The Kaiser Idell wall lamp is a specific model from the Kaiser Idell line, designed by Christian Dell in the 1930s. This wall-mounted version is known for its flexibility and practicality, thanks to its spring arm, which allows precise adjustment of the lamp’s angle and position. The metal structure and lacquered steel shade reflect the minimalist Bauhaus aesthetic, combining functionality with elegant design. This type of lamp is ideal for spaces where adjustable lighting is needed, such as offices, workshops, or reading areas. The Kaiser Idell wall lamp with spring continues to be produced by Fritz Hansen and remains an iconic Bauhaus lamp.
Side Table B9
The Side Table B9 is another classic design created by Marcel Breuer at the Bauhaus. Designed in the 1920s, the B9 table is part of a series of furniture that uses a tubular steel structure. This innovative design reflects the Bauhaus aesthetic and philosophy, emphasizing the use of industrial materials, absence of decoration, and simple geometric forms. The B9 table is lightweight, versatile, and available in various sizes, making it suitable for many settings, from homes to offices.
cesca Chair
The Cesca chair is an icon of modern design created by Marcel Breuer in 1928. The name Cesca is derived from Francesca, Breuer’s adopted daughter, to whom the architect dedicated his design. This chair is famous for its combination of a chrome-plated tubular metal frame with a wood and woven rattan seat and backrest, merging minimalist aesthetics with functionality. The Cesca chair remains one of Knoll’s best-selling classics, a long-seller that has never gone out of production and has recently come back into fashion, gracing the pages of design magazines once again.
WG 24
The WG 24 lamp is a renowned design product known for its geometric structure and simplicity. Designed by Wilhelm Wagenfeld in 1924, it is also known as the Bauhaus lamp. This table lamp features a metal base and an opaque glass shade with a spherical shape. The minimalist design of the WG 24 reflects Bauhaus principles, combining functionality and strong aesthetic character in an everyday object. The simplicity of its structure and the combination of traditional materials like glass with industrial ones like metal have made this lamp an icon of 20th-century design. The WG 24 is still produced today by Tecnolumen.
Bauhaus Cradle
Peter Keler’s Cradle is an iconic Bauhaus design, created in 1922. Keler, a student and collaborator at the Bauhaus, designed this cradle following the school’s principles: simple geometric shapes, functionality, and minimalist aesthetics. The use of primary colors for the cradle also shows the significant influence of the De Stijl movement on the German school’s style. The design of the cradle is based on primary geometric forms: the main body is a cylinder, the sides are circles, and the support consists of triangles. The primary colors red, blue, and yellow add a distinctive visual element to the cradle.
