d69 DESIGN HISTORY / BAUHAUS THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF ARCHITECTURE
Architect Alan Crawford
explains how relevant the Bauhaus
movement is in his business today...
From my time studying architecture in Brighton through to practicing today, there have always been influences from the philosophy of the Bauhaus movement creeping into the design thought process on every new project, like some invisible force that shouts out ‘Form Follows Function’.
During my early architecture studies, the Bauhaus vocabulary – with its integrity and honesty in materials, its craft and practicality in design featuring little ornamentation, and with a focus on balanced forms and abstract shapes that resulted in the characteristic stripped back, streamlined, minimalist aesthetic – became an appealing alternative to idealistic young architecture students seeking alternatives to the more formal classical and vernacular styles that continued to be prominent.
Despite the undoubted influence of the Bauhaus movement on art,
architecture and interior design, on graduating into architectural practice and initially working for a speculative house builder, it was increasingly frustrating to discover that the vast majority of new homes were being rolled out in pastiche vernacular and neo classical designs with standard layouts comprising of small enclosed claustrophobic rooms and tiny windows that limited daylight or view. They eschewed the opportunities for more innovative and expressive designs incorporating harmonious forms and simple, open plan interiors of glass and natural materials, that the Bauhaus evoked to us as students.
Ironically, many years later, the majority of mass-produced housing built all over the UK by speculative house builders still adopt this seemingly preferred vernacular style. It was not until I ventured into private practice that the opportunity slowly began to present itself to design new homes for clients that reflected the ideals of the Bauhaus style, and our current residential designs all aspire to similar ideals, incorporating natural materials with large glazed areas combined with bright and spacious open plan minimalist and crafted interiors that provide wellbeing and flexibility of use, appropriate for 21st Century lifestyles.
A recently completed private house in Crouch End by The Crawford Partnership
A recently completed private house in Crouch End, London, embodies similar minimalist and crafted principles in its compact design, relying on simple external form and providing a neutral interior open plan backdrop within which our client can place his prized furniture. The entrance door of this house is purposely painted bright yellow as a nod to the preferred primary colours of the movement.
The idea of ‘mass production’ is a tenet of the Bauhaus movement, and in addressing the ongoing housing crisis we are currently experiencing, it is one that is now very relevant today, gradually being taken up by major housebuilders 100 years after the idea was originally conceived. Long Live the Bauhaus!
Left: The original Bauhaus logo Centre: Menton Sofa and Armchairs by Matthew Hilton, designed exclusively for The Conran Shop Right: Architecture promoted by the Third Reich from 1933 until its fall in 1945 followed a utilitarian style for major infrastructure projects such as with the German Finance Ministry seen here
designer kitchen & bathroom
designerkbmag.co.uk
MAY 2019
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