Esoteric Survey

Interbau was constructed as part of the 1957 International Building Exhibition, which was held in Berlin. Located in the war-torn Hansaviertel district of Tiergarten, plans by Gerhard Jobst and Willy Kreuer won the urban design aspect of the exhibition. Their plans were implemented under the supervision of  Otto Bartning, who managed the overall project. The plan went along with the typical Le Corbusier modern ideology of what the city of the future should be-- an efficient machine, lushly landscaped, with separated uses. Although primarily residential, a church, theater, library and public gardens were dispersed through the development. Thirty-six buildings were constructed.  Fifty-three architects from around the world participate in the project, including Oscar Niemeyer, Arne Jacobsen, Le Corbusier, Alvar Aalto and Walter Gropius. Haus der Kulturen der Welt or Congress Hall by US architect Hugh Stubbins  The building was a gift from the Un...

Kornhaus (1930) by Carl Fieger Located on the Elbe River, the city of Dessau, with the brewery Schultheiss-Patzenhofer, commissio ned the construction of the Kornhaus restaurant. Fieger was a draftsman for Walter Gropius. Kornhaus is still a restaurant. I had asparagus and potatoes. Asparagus season is a big deal in Germany. It's large and white--I'm talking about the asparagus. Steel House (1927)  by Georg Muche and Richard Paulick. It too was commissioned by the  city of Dessau. The return on that investment in architecture must have been pretty insane. I imagine thousands of people head to Dessau every year to see these buildings. The house was planned as a prototype, but it wasn't a success. Employment Office (1929)  by Walter Gropius Gropius designed a round building with a glass saw-tooth roof. I really wish I was able to go inside. Source: Bauhaus Dessau The city of Dessau also commissioned Walter ...

In May I spent some time in Europe. I saw a lot of castles, but this was my favorite.    Bauhaus at Dessau was constructed in 1925-26. It was designed by the founder of the Bauhaus, Walter Gropius and was commissioned and paid for by the city of Dessau.  Bauhaus, shortly after completion. Source: © Lucia Moholy Estate via 99 Percent Invisible For some context of the time period, check out the buildings in the distance. Source: Bauhaus It still operates as a school. There's also a museum and café. The dorms where  junior masters and promising students lived and worked. It's where Marcel Breuer, Josef Albers, Herbert Bayer, Franz Ehrlich, Marianne Brandt, and Anni Albers slept. It is also where a much less important design geek spent the night. I was able to call Bauhaus home for a night. It was so special. Gropius handles are everywhere. In bed at Bauhaus. László Moholy-Nagy...