As commissioned by the Grand Duke of Weimar, Henry Van de Velde grew his craft seminar to into what would be called the Grand Ducal School of Arts and Crafts in Weimar. After leaving the school in 1914, he suggested a gentleman by the name of Walter Gropius, who later combined the Arts and Crafts School and the Academy of Fine Arts to become Bauhaus. Van de Velde designed several of the buildings for the campus, and many still being used today. As part of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Van de Velde Building and the Main Building have been completely renovated and brought back to the original designs of Henry Van de Velde. Similar to the design of his home, the Bloemenwerf House, Van de Velde had an extreme eye for detail, while keeping with the minimalist design, as seen in the façade of the Main Building (Figure 1). You can witness his Art Nouveau stylistic lines throughout the design of both buildings. Very straight and grid like patterns, yet slight curves seen in the windows. The elegance of his continuous curved staircase is seen in both buildings and considered focal points of his designs. The stairwell of the Main Building as been viewed and used for many different artistic shoots but remains in its conical beauty (Figure 2). The staircase in the Van de Velde building remains an icon of his style, with a curved appeal, yet done with more straight, functional lines (Figure 3).  Both the Main Building and the Van de Velde Building currently serve as great inspiration to current students as they house many of the art classes.

 

Bibliography

weimar GmbH Gesellschaft. “Main Building Bauhaus University.” Kulturstadt Weimar – Main Building Bauhaus University , www.weimar.de/en/culture/unesco-world-heritage/bauhaus-sites/main-building-bauhaus-university/.

“UNESCO World Heritage Bauhaus Weimar.” Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, www.uni-weimar.de/en/university/profile/unesco-world-heritage-bauhaus/.

“Van-De-Velde Walk.” Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, www.uni-weimar.de/en/university/news/annual-events/archive/events-2013/the-van-de-velde-year/van-de-velde-walk/.