Mural workshop, Bauhaus Dessau, 1926

© Bauhaus Universität Weimar, Archiv der Moderne

56

Axonometric drawing of the Residential buildings at Törten by Walter Gropius and Building department of Bauhaus, 1927

stories

contents

or Dessau, Gropius designed three structures in total: the school itself, a residence for faculty, and a workers’ village, Toerten. The latter was considered by Dessau authorities as a model for further planned development in the city. Gropius’ “languages” for the three are quite different: ascetic-grand for the school, imposing and strictly ordered for the residence, and almost crudely simple for Dessau-Toerten.


 

58

Bauhaus Dessau

Photo by Tadashi Okochi

Some said that, while the school building inspired respect for public spaces and the faculty residence salutes bourgeois values, Toerten insinuates that ordinary people must content themselves with lesser quality. The uniformity of the houses of the town at first lacked any greenery, and were received unenthusiastically by residents. Gropius was much criticized for Toerten.

 

62

The cover of the Sovremennaia Arkhitektura (Contemporary Architecture) magazine, 1926

stories

contents

he Constructivists began publishing a journal, Sovremennaia Arkhitektura (Contemporary Architecture), showcasing Constructivist work as well as articles by opponents and articles about the avant-garde in other countries, including the Bauhaus.