Triennal of Modernism: Archaeology of Modernism. Building Research Bauhaus Buildings Dessau
Exhibition of the Building Research Archive of the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation
This event is part of Triennal of Modernism.
Where?
Dessau-Roßlau, Bauhausgebäude (Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau)
When?
04.10.2019 - 31.12.2030
What?
Exhibition
The exhibition presents a selection from the Building Research Archive and demonstrates the interaction of material and the architecture of Modernism by presenting building components and building material, drawing and contemporary records.
Whether door handles and bath tubs or colour samples and concrete fragments, the scientists in the Building Research Archive of the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation collect and investigate building components and materials of the architecture of Modernism. A worldwide unique collection of original testimonies that have been almost unknown by now. The exhibition Material and Architecture in the Bauhaus Building presents a selection from the building research archive and demonstrates the interaction of material and the architecture of Modernism by presenting building components and building materials, drawing and contemporary records.
The Bauhaus buildings in Dessau are prototypes – also in view of building materials. In particular steel, glass and concrete opened new options for the Bauhäuser. Walter Gropius wrote, “just these new building materials – iron, concrete, glass – allow to erect large-spanned, light-flooded rooms and buildings because of their strength and molecular density at greatest savings…”. These new opportunities were practically tested in the Bauhaus buildings.
Over the past decades, much knowledge about the once modern, however meanwhile historical materials has been lost. Many materials proved to be useful and prevailed, some of them not. They were just replaced in later refurbishment activities, apparently unimportant items, e.g. electrical lines and floor covers, were disposed of. But they find their place in the building research archive. They are secured, investigated and again and again studied to answer still pending questions of the architecture of Modernism.
Address
Bauhausgebäude (Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau)Gropiusallee 38
06846 Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
Directions by car
A9: Ausfahrt Dessau Ost oder Dessau Süd. Besucherparkplatz neben dem Bauhausgebäude, Gropiusallee 38, 06846 Dessau
Directions by local public transport
DB: Dessau Hauptbahnhof (ca. 5 min Fußweg)
- Step-free access to the venue and event rooms
- Wide doors (at least 90 cm, thresholds maximum 2 cm)
- Wheelchair-friendly bathroom facilities
- Disabled car parking available
- Barrier-free accessibility with local public transport