Bauhaus Design: Revolutionizing Form and Function

When the Bauhaus school was forced to close its doors in 1933 under political pressure, it wasn't an end. It was the beginning. 

Driven from Europe, pioneers like Walter Gropius and Mies van der Rohe arrived in American to witness the post-war industrial boom begin. It was an architectural "perfect storm": a group of visionaries with a dream of "design for all" had finally found a country with the factories and the appetite to mass-produce it. From the classrooms of Harvard to the skyline of Chicago, the Bauhaus didn't just move to America: it found its voice here.

This Bauhaus blog charts the journey of this revolutionary school and explores how Bauhaus style remains the essential DNA of modern interior design.

Fascinated by Bauhaus? Turn your passion into a profession with The Interior Design Institute. Our online interior design coursesgive you the technical skills and historical perspectives to translate iconic principles into contemporary homes.

Image Source: Curbed.

What is Bauhaus Style?

At its core, Bauhaus style is all about stripping away the clutter to find beauty in utility. It’s a design philosophy that believes a chair, building, or lamp should look exactly like what it does. No fancy carvings or unnecessary decorations needed. 

Instead, the look is built on clean lines, simple shapes, and the iconic color palette of red, blue, and yellow. By using modern materials like glass and steel, the Bauhaus movement proved that everyday objects can be both practical and striking. It’s a timeless and honest approach to design that feels just as fresh and relevant in today’s interiors as it did a century ago.

The History of Bauhaus

The trajectory of the Bauhaus was defined by a shift from the romanticized craft of the medieval guild toward a hard-edged industrial philosophy. Originally, the school sought to address the industrial revolution and the growing rift between the artisan and the machine. But as it matured, it abandoned the decorative in favor of universal logic. 

When political pressure forced the school's closure in 1933, the philosophy did not dissolve, it dispersed, leading to a critical turning point where the European avant-garde met American industrial might. In the United States, the movement was rebranded for the corporate age, evolving through the Chicago synthesis where it integrated new technologies and use of light.

This migration culminated in the International Style: an architecture that belonged nowhere and everywhere. By stripping away national motifs, the Bauhaus created a visual language, evidenced everywhere from American academia to the high-rise offices of Manhattan.

Key Figures of the Bauhaus Movement

While the Bauhaus movement originated in Germany, its modernist principles spread globally, especially to America, through the work of these key figures.

• Walter Gropius: As founder of the Bauhaus, he emigrated to the U.S. in 1937, taught at Harvard, and championed designs where form perfectly balances function.
• Marcel Breuer: A materials innovator, he moved to New York in 1937, creating timeless tubular steel furniture that continues to define modern interiors.
• László Moholy-Nagy: His experiments in photography and graphics founded the New Bauhaus in Chicago in 1937, pioneering techniques that echo in digital design today.
• Paul Klee & Wassily Kandinsky: Infused Bauhaus with abstract, poetic visuals. Though they stayed in Europe, their ideas heavily influence American modernism.

Image Source: Research Gate.

3 Core Bauhaus Design Principles

At the heart of Bauhaus is a set of principles that redefined design:

• Form Follows Function: This core tenet emphasizes that a design’s appearance should be dictated by its purpose, prioritizing usability and efficiency.
• Minimalism and Simplicity: Stripping away excess, Bauhaus design focuses on clean lines, geometric forms, and clarity of expression.
• Unity of Art, Craft, and Technology: Bauhaus rejected the separation between fine art and applied art, combining creative expression with industrial production.

Bauhaus design elements remain central to modern design, shaping how we create and experience spaces today.

Characteristics of Bauhaus Design

Bauhaus aesthetics are instantly recognizable, marked by:

• Geometric Shapes and Clean Lines: From architecture to furniture, simplicity and precision are fundamental.
• Primary Colors and Neutrals: The use of bold primary colors alongside black and white adds vibrancy without overwhelming.
• Innovative Materials: Bauhaus products were crafted from materials like steel, glass, and concrete, showcasing their raw beauty while enhancing functionality.

These characteristics emphasize practicality while maintaining visual impact, ensuring Bauhaus designs remain timeless.

Image Source: Behance.

Bauhaus in Architecture

The Bauhaus architecture prioritizes simplicity, functionality, and the unity of form and function. Pioneers like Gropius and Mies van der Rohe revolutionized architecture using minimalist facades, open floor plans, and industrial materials like steel and reinforced concrete.

• Seagram Building (NYC): A definitive "International Style" skyscraper by Mies van der Rohe, featuring a functional steel frame and bronze-toned glass.
• Gropius House (MA): Walter Gropius’s residence, blending traditional New England materials with industrial efficiency.
• Farnsworth House (IL): A minimalist glass-and-steel masterpiece by Mies van der Rohe that dissolves boundaries between interior and nature.

Image Source: Thomas Lewandovski.

Bauhaus Furniture Design

Bauhaus furniture replaced ornate decoration with clean geometric lines and mass-producibility. These designs have been rigorously tested by decades of use and remain staples of contemporary American interiors.

• Wassily Chair (Marcel Breuer): The first chair to use bent tubular steel. Breuer’s move to the U.S. helped cement this industrial look as a symbol of modern status.
• Barcelona Chair (Mies van der Rohe): A fusion of hand-buffed steel and leather that became the signature piece for American corporate lobbies.
• Knoll Furniture (Florence Knoll): A protégé of the Bauhaus masters, Knoll translated their principles into the modular furniture that defined mid-century American offices.

Image Source: Knoll + 1stdibs.

Bauhaus in Graphic Design and Typography

Bauhaus graphic design moved away from serif fonts and cluttered layouts toward a functional aesthetic meant for rapid communication. These principles standardized the visual language of global advertising and corporate identity.

• Universal Typeface: Herbert Bayer’s attempted to create a "universal" font that eliminated capital letters, prioritizing legibility and geometric purity.
• Grid Systems: The Bauhaus popularized the use of a mathematical grid to organize text and images. This logic became the foundation for American corporate identity.
• NYC Subway Map (Vignelli): While designed decades later, the iconic 1972 map used Bauhaus principles to create a clean, color-coded geometric diagram.

Image Source: Behance.

Bauhaus Interior Design

Bauhaus principles transformed American homes by replacing ornamentation with industrial efficiency, open floor plans, and a seamless connection to the outdoors.

• Bergstein House: Focuses on geometric simplicity, utilizing minimalist entries, integrated furniture, and sliding windows to connect with nature.
• Stahl House: Defined by an elevated steel structure and expansive glass walls that prioritize panoramic views and open-concept living.
• Gropius House: Features an open-plan layout with built-in storage, glass-block walls, and chrome accents to maximize light and functional space.

Image Source: Bauhaus-Archiv Berlin/Karsten Hintz.

How to Use Modern Bauhaus Design Principles

Use these steps to blend industrial precision with functional warmth for clean, balanced American homes. 

1. Geometric Zoning: Use low-slung furniture in ranches or lofts to maintain outdoor sightlines. Leave beams or structural brick exposed to celebrate local "honesty of construction."
2. Material & Palette Contrast: Pair industrial steel with American hardwoods like Walnut or White Oak. Swap heavy wools for breathable linens in coastal regions and use "Colonial" neutrals with primary accents.
3. Purposeful Curation: Declutter large floor plans with multi-functional icons. Use sculptural lighting to define zones, ensuring every piece justifies its footprint in high-square-footage homes.
4. Softening the Machine Aesthetic: Temper sharp edges with climate-specific textures, like bouclé for Northern winters or cotton for the Sunbelt. Use warm LEDs to soften standard drywall and glass.

Celebrating the Legacy of Bauhaus

Though the Bauhaus school existed for just 14 years, its impact endures. Its principles laid the foundation for modern design movements like minimalism and continue to shape fields as diverse as architecture, interior design, and industrial design. The Bauhaus philosophy of integrating functionality with creativity resonates in today’s sustainable design practices, influencing how we approach efficiency and aesthetics.

Bauhaus has become a global design language, influencing education and inspiring designers to innovate while staying true to its ideals of simplicity, utility, and beauty.

From Bauhaus Theory to Design Professional

You now have the roadmap to apply Bauhaus principles to contemporary interior design. At IDI, our interior design courses deliver the practical expertise and professional portfolio needed to launch your career.

Our in-depth online modules include: 

• Module 2: History of Style: Master the evolution of Modernism and Bauhaus to bring historical depth to contemporary spaces.
• Module 4: Space Planning: Practical training in floor plans and furniture layouts driven by the "form follows function" philosophy.
• Module 7: Interior Finishes: Technical knowledge of industrial materials and sustainable surfaces to execute the minimalist aesthetic.

Ready for the next step? Explore our online interior design courses and download your free prospectus today.

ID TUTOR

Wendi Snyder

Interior Design Tutor at The Interior Design Institute

For over a decade, Wendi has supported students on their interior design journey at The Interior Design Institute (IDI). Wendi had a twenty-five-year career in theatre, working for both student and professional productions at the renowned Alexander Theatre at Monash University.

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Published: December 08, 2024