Bauhaus-Archiv / Museum für Gestaltung

The extensive collection of the Bauhaus-Archiv / Museum für Gestaltung goes back to the initiative of the German art historian Hans Maria Wingler, who collected the material legacy of the Bauhaus from around the world from 1960 onwards. Today, the collection includes works from all areas of the Bauhäusler’s creative work – including an architecture collection comprising 14,000 plans, a graphic collection of 12,000 sheets, a photo archive with 72,000 photographs as well as objects and furniture from all phases of the Bauhaus development. The core holdings include the partial estate of the Bauhaus director Walter Gropius, which includes manuscripts, letters, photographs and plans of his works. Gropius and his American architectural office TAC are also responsible as architects for the Bauhaus Archive building, which was completed in 1979 and has been a listed building since 1997.

From the very beginning, the Bauhaus-Archiv has been a place of active knowledge production – whether in researching the history and impact of the Bauhaus or in presenting and communicating it in exhibitions, publications and events. The programme of the house pursues both current topics and questions about contemporary design and the continued impact of the Bauhaus ideas. Its museum educational formats for all age groups have received numerous awards.