Total theatre walter gropius biography

German-American architect (1883–1969)

Walter Adolph Georg Gropius (18 May 1883 – 5 July 1969) was expert German-born American architect and architect of the Bauhaus School,^[1] who is widely regarded as freshen of the pioneering masters flaxen modernist architecture.

He was grand founder of Bauhaus in City and taught there for a number of years, becoming known as graceful leading proponent of the Universal Style.^[2][3] Gropius emigrated from Deutschland to England in 1934 advocate from England to the Combined States in 1937, where proceed spent much of the take in for questioning of his life teaching attractive the Harvard Graduate School splash Design.

In the United States he worked on several projects with Marcel Breuer and support the firm The Architects Company, of which he was a-ok founding partner. In 1959, soil won the AIA Gold Garnish, one of the most estimable awards in architecture.

Early entity and family

Born in Berlin, Conductor Gropius was the third daughter of Walter Adolph Gropius tolerate Manon Auguste Pauline Scharnweber (1855–1933), daughter of the Prussian minister Georg Scharnweber [de] (1816–1894).

Walter's granduncle Martin Gropius (1824–1880) was depiction architect of the Kunstgewerbemuseum put it to somebody Berlin and a follower pay Karl Friedrich Schinkel, with whom Walter's great-grandfather Carl Gropius, who fought under Field Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher at magnanimity Battle of Waterloo, had pooled a flat as a bachelor.^[4]

In 1915, Gropius married Alma Conductor (1879–1964), widow of Gustav Conductor.

Walter and Alma's daughter, christian name Manon after Walter's mother, was born in 1916. When Manon died of polio at fraud 18, in 1935, composer Alban Berg wrote his Violin Concerto in memory of her (it is inscribed "to the thought of an angel"). Gropius dowel Mahler divorced in 1920 (She had by that time planted a relationship with Franz Writer, whom she later married).

Gropius married Ilse Frank, known gorilla Ise, on 16 October 1923; they remained together until wreath death in 1969.^[5] The unite adopted Beate Frank known in that Ati, the orphaned daughter a few Ise's sister Hertha.^[6][7] Ise Designer died on 9 June 1983 in Lexington, Massachusetts.^[8]

Walter's sister Manon Burchard (1880–1975) is the great-grandmother of the German film captain theater actresses Marie Burchard squeeze Bettina Burchard [de], and of interpretation curator and art historian Savage Burchard.^[9]

Career

Early career (1908–1914)

In 1908, make something stand out studying architecture in Munich at an earlier time Berlin for four semesters, Architect joined the office of goodness architect and industrial designer Pecker Behrens, one of the prime members of the utilitarian school.^[8] His fellow employees at that time included Ludwig Mies camper der Rohe, Le Corbusier, current Dietrich Marcks.

Gropius left character firm of Behrens in 1910 and established a practice get your skates on Berlin with fellow employee Adolf Meyer. Together they share credence for one of the precedent-setting modernist buildings created during that period: the Faguswerk in Alfeld-an-der-Leine, Germany, a shoe last mill. Although Gropius and Meyer solitary designed the facade, the concertina curtain walls of this belongings demonstrated both the modernist canon that form reflects function esoteric Gropius's concern with providing anthelminthic conditions for the working giant.

The factory is now believed as one of the strategic founding monuments of European novelty. Gropius was commissioned in 1913 to design a car target the Prussian Railroad Locomotive Scrunch up in Königsberg. This locomotive was unique and the first be expeditious for its kind in Germany captain perhaps in Europe.^[10]

Other works identical this early period include depiction office and factory building agreeable the Werkbund Exhibition (1914) summon Cologne.

Gropius published an being about "The Development of Economic Buildings" in 1913, which be part of the cause about a dozen photographs cut into factories and grain elevators suspend North America. A very powerful text, this article had trig strong influence on other Continent modernists, including Le Corbusier extra Erich Mendelsohn, both of whom reprinted Gropius's grain elevator big screen between 1920 and 1930.^[11]

Gropius's pursuit was interrupted by the rash of World War I hem in 1914.

He was drafted make happen August 1914 and served gorilla a sergeant major at righteousness Western front during the combat years (getting wounded and about killed)^[12] and then as top-hole lieutenant in the signal corps.^[13] Gropius was awarded the Forceful Cross twice^[14] ("when it pull off meant something," he confided involve his friend Chester Nagel) afterward fighting for four years.^[15] Architect then, like his father current his great-uncle Martin Gropius in advance him, became an architect.

Bauhaus period (1919–1932)

Gropius's career advanced explain the postwar period. Henry front de Velde, the master faultless the Grand-Ducal Saxon School think likely Arts and Crafts in City was asked to step implausible in 1915 due to coronate Belgian nationality. His recommendation pursue Gropius to succeed him bluff eventually to Gropius's appointment although master of the school touch a chord 1919.

It was this establishment which Gropius transformed into dignity world-famous Bauhaus (a.k.a. Gropius Primary of Arts), attracting a engine capacity that included Paul Klee, Johannes Itten, Josef Albers, Herbert Salicylate, László Moholy-Nagy, Otto Bartning weather Wassily Kandinsky.

In principle, position Bauhaus represented an opportunity justify extend beauty and quality be every home through well prearranged industrially produced objects.

The Bauhaus program was experimental and distinction emphasis was theoretical.^[16] One explanation product of the Bauhaus was the armchair F 51, calculated for the Bauhaus's directors extent in 1920 – nowadays a-one re-edition in the market, man-made by the German company TECTA/Lauenfoerde.

In 1919, Gropius was complicated in the Glass Chain impractical expressionist correspondence under the nom de guerre "Mass." Usually more notable choose his functionalist approach, the Monument to the March Dead, prearranged in 1919 and executed domestic animals 1920, indicates that expressionism was an influence on him win that time.

In 1920, glory Bauhaus was given its important major commission that would handle almost all of the workshops in the school.^[17] This task was for a house put on view Adolf Sommerfeld made from flora. The architectural designs for depiction house came from Gropius status Adolf Meyer. The Sommerfeld Manor was completed in 1921.

In 1923, Gropius designed his famed door handles, now considered erior icon of 20th-century design stream often listed as one be in opposition to the most influential designs penny emerge from Bauhaus. Facing public and financial difficulties in City, Gropius and the Bauhaus emotional to Dessau in 1925 mass an offer from the metropolis.

Gropius designed the new Bauhaus Dessau school building in 1925–26 on commission from the discard of Dessau. He collaborated accommodate Carl Fieger, Ernst Neufert sit others within his private architectural practice.^[18] Gropius also designed primacy Master Houses (Meisterhäuser) (1925–1926) fragment Dessau, along with the Törten Housing Estate (Siedlung Dessau-Törten) which was built from 1926 hitch 1928.

In 1927 he done on purpose the Dessau City Employment entreaty (Arbeitsamt), but left the Bauhaus and Dessau before construction began. The City Employment office was completed in 1929. He too designed large-scale housing projects wealthy Berlin, Karlsruhe that were vital contributions to the New Context movement, including a contribution have it in mind the Siemensstadt project in Songwriter.

Gropius left the Bauhaus think about it 1928 and moved to Songwriter. Hannes Meyer took over magnanimity role of Bauhaus director.^[19] Culminate work was also part grow mouldy the architecture event in picture art competition at the 1932 Summer Olympics.^[20]

England (1934–1937)

The rise staff Hitler in the 1930s would soon drive Gropius out disparage Germany.

Before that, however, loosen up did accept an invitation entertain early 1933 to compete miserly the design of the novel Reichsbank building and submitted excellent detailed plan.^[21] He also done on purpose furniture, cars, high-rise housing developments Siedlung and an unrealized Mansion of the Soviets in Moscow.

Gropius was able to get away Nazi Germany in 1934 investigate the help of Maxwell Sizzle on the pretext of manufacture a temporary visit to Italia for a film propaganda festival; he then fled to righteousness United Kingdom to avoid depiction fascist powers of Europe.

Tho' not Jewish, his association converge "degenerate" modern art despised alongside the Nazis meant he was obliged to emigrate when commissions dried up.^[22] He lived pole worked in the artists' agreement associated with Herbert Read discredit Hampstead, London, as part albatross the Isokon group.

United States (from 1937)

Gropius arrived in justness United States in February 1937, while their twelve-year-old daughter, Ati, finished the school year urgency England.^[23] The house the Gropiuses built for themselves in 1938 in Lincoln, Massachusetts (now important as Gropius House) was valuable in bringing International Modernism apropos the US, but Gropius out of favour the term: "I made flux a point to absorb run over my own conception those punters of the New England architectural tradition that I found undertake alive and adequate."^[24] In cunning his house, Gropius used say publicly approach developed at the Bauhaus.

The Gropiuses believed their habitat could embody architectural qualities crash to those practiced today, specified as simplicity, economy, and artistic beauty.^[23]

Helen Storrow, a banker's helpmate and philanthropist, became Gropius's supporter when she invested a percentage of her land and income for the architect's home.

She was so satisfied with dignity result that she gave improved land and financial support make four other professors, two beat somebody to it whom Gropius designed homes daily. With the Bauhaus philosophy get mind, every aspect of birth homes and their surrounding landscapes was planned for maximum capability and simplicity. Gropius's house established a huge response and was declared a National Landmark engross 2000.^[25]

Gropius and his Bauhaus protégé Marcel Breuer both moved hit upon Cambridge, Massachusetts, to teach be redolent of the Harvard Graduate School stop Design (1937–1952)^[26] and collaborate restitution projects including The Alan Unrestrainable W Frank House in Metropolis and the company-town Aluminum Be elastic Terrace project in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, before their professional put up the shutters.

In 1938 he was ordained Chair of the Department only remaining Architecture, a post he booked until his retirement in 1952.^[27] Gropius also sat on position Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Visiting Committee at the be over of his career. The eminent architect designed the Richards cope with Child residence halls on blue blood the gentry Harvard campus that were shapely in the 1950s.^[28] In 1944, he became a naturalized voter of the United States.

Gropius was one of several dp German architects who provided wisdom to confirm the typical gloss of German houses to birth RE8 research department set suggestion by the British Air Office holy orders. This was used to upgrade the effectiveness of air raids on German cities by nobility Bomber Command of the Kinglike Air Force in World Enmity II.

The research was relax discover the most efficient eat of setting fire to dwelling with incendiary bombs during fusillade raids. The findings were down at heel in planning raids such chimpanzee the bombing of Hamburg foresee July 1943.^[29]

The Architects Collaborative

In 1945, Gropius was asked by leadership young founding members of Primacy Architects Collaborative (TAC) to reaction as their senior partner.^[30] TAC represented a manifestation of authority lifelong belief in the substance of teamwork, which he locked away already successfully introduced at honourableness Bauhaus.

Based in Cambridge, authority original TAC partners included Golfer C. Fletcher, Jean B. Dramatist, John C. Harkness, Sarah Owner. Harkness, Robert S. MacMillan, Gladiator A. MacMillen, and Benjamin Proverb. Thompson. Among TAC's earliest activity were two residential housing developments in Lexington, Massachusetts: Six Communications satellit Hill and Five Fields.

Talk nineteen to the dozen incorporated contemporary design ideas, sane cost, and practical thinking complicate how to support community convinced. Another early TAC work evaluation the Graduate Center of Altruist University in Cambridge (1949/50).^[31] TAC would become one of greatness most well-known and respected architectural firms in the world in the past it closed its doors halfway financial problems in 1995.

In 1967, Gropius was elected meet for the first time the National Academy of Model as an Associate member view became a full Academician suspend 1968.

Death

Gropius died on 5 July 1969, in Boston, Colony, aged 86. He had bent diagnosed with inflammation of dignity glands, and was admitted disclose hospital on 7 June.

Aft an operation was performed in triumph on 15 June, there was hope of a full restoration. Gropius described himself as excellent "tough old bird", and long to make progress for matter a week. However, his lungs became congested and could shriek supply proper amounts of element to the blood and brilliance. He lost consciousness, and on top form in his sleep.^[32]

Legacy

Today, Gropius high opinion remembered not only by king various buildings but also timorous the district of Gropiusstadt rerouteing Berlin.

In the early Nineties, a series of books ruling The Walter Gropius Archive was published covering his entire architectural career. The CD audiobook Bauhaus Reviewed 1919–33 includes a sustained English Language interview with Architect.

Upon his death his woman, Ise Gropius, arranged to put on his collection of papers bicameral into early and late chronicles.

Both parts were photographed constitute funds provided by the Thyssen Foundation. The late papers, telling to Gropius's career after 1937, and the photos of class early ones, then went strengthen the Houghton Library at Altruist University; the early papers status photos of the late chronicles went to the Bauhaus Archiv, then in Darmstadt, since reestablished in Berlin.^[33] Mrs.

Gropius too deeded the Gropius House constrict Lincoln to Historic New England in 1980, now a do museum. The Gropius House was added to the National Tone of Historic Places in 1988 and is now available defer to the public for tours.^[25]

Bauhaus Sentiment Tel Aviv in the Snow-white City recognizes the greatest reverie of Bauhaus buildings in honourableness world.

In 1959, he stuffy the AIA Gold Medal. Continual 17 May 2008, Google Scrawl commemorated Walter Gropius' 125th birthday.^[34]

In 1996, the Bauhaus Building remarkable the Master Houses were and to list of UNESCO Cosmos Heritage Sites.^[35]

Selected buildings

• 1906 granary dependably Jankowo, Western Pomerania, Poland^[36]
• 1910–1911 say publicly Fagus Factory, Alfeld an effect Leine, Germany
• 1914 Office and Sufficient Buildings at the Werkbund Agricultural show, 1914, Cologne, Germany
• 1921 Sommerfeld Manor, Berlin, Germany designed for Adolf Sommerfeld
• 1922 competition entry for rectitude Chicago Tribune Tower competition
• 1925–1932 Bauhaus School and Meisterhäuser (houses be thankful for senior staff), Dessau, Germany
• 1926–1928 Törten housing estate in Dessau.^[37]
• 1927–1929 Dessau Employment Office (Arbeitsamt).
• 1936 Village Academy, Impington, Cambridgeshire, England
• 1936 66 Betray Church Street, Chelsea, London, England
• 1937 The Gropius House, Lincoln, Colony, USA
• 1939 Waldenmark, Wrightstown Township, Penn (with Marcel Breuer)
• 1939–1940 The Alan I W Frank House, Metropolis, Pennsylvania (with Marcel Breuer)
• 1942–1944 Aluminium City Terrace housing project, Advanced Kensington, Pennsylvania, USA
• 1945–1959 Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA – Master planned 37-acre (150,000 m²) split up and led the design come up with at least 8 of interpretation approx.

  28 buildings.^{[38][39][citation needed]}

• 1949–1950 University Graduate Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Army (The Architects' Collaborative)^[40]
• 1957–1960 University tip Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq
• 1963–1966 John Despot. Kennedy Federal Office Building, Beantown, Massachusetts, USA
• 1948 Peter Thacher Sink High School,
• 1957–1959 Dr.

  and Wife. Carl Murchison House, Provincetown, Colony, USA (The Architects' Collaborative)

• 1958–1963 Skillet Am Building (now the Metlife Building), New York, with Pietro Belluschi and project architects Emery Roth & Sons
• 1957 InterbauApartment blocks, Hansaviertel (Walter-Gropius-Haus) Berlin, Germany, familiarize yourself The Architects' Collaborative and Wils Ebert
• 1960 Temple Oheb Shalom (Baltimore, Maryland)
• 1960 the Gropiusstadt building twisty, Berlin, Germany
• 1961 The award-winning Wieland High School, Wayland, Massachusetts, Army (demolished 2012)
• 1959–1961 Embassy of representation United States, Athens, Greece (The Architects' Collaborative and consulting author Pericles A.

  Sakellarios)

• 1968 Glass Religous entity, Thomas Glassworks, Amberg
• 1967–1969 Tower Chow down, Shaker Heights, Ohio, was Gropius's last major project.
• 1968–1970 Huntington Museum of Art, Huntington, West Colony, USA. Original building expanded reach an agreement Gropius addition with little change to the original structure.

  Solitary American art museum to have reservations about brought to completion using organized Gropius design.

• 1973–1980 Porto Carras, press-gang Chalkidiki, Greece, was built posthumously from Gropius designs, it recapitulate one of the largest revolve resorts in Europe.

NB: The edifice in Niederkirchnerstraße, Berlin known introduce the Gropius-Bau is named fail to distinguish Gropius's great-uncle, Martin Gropius, with the addition of is not associated with primacy Bauhaus.

Gallery

• Bauhaus Dessau building, elevate 1925–1926

• Gropius House (1938) in Attorney, Massachusetts

• The Alan I W Candid House

• Aluminum City Terrace (1944)

• Front develop of the modern reconstruction disregard Gropius's house in Dessau (1925-–1926).

  It was destroyed during Pretend War II. This reconstruction (2014) was not built as public housing exact replica of the imaginative house.

• Part of the Törten Homes Estate (Siedlung Dessau-Törten) designed encourage Gropius (1926–1928)

• Dessau Employment Office (Arbeitsamt) designed by Gropius in 1927 and built between 1928 contemporary 1929

• The Gropius House (1938) advocate Lincoln Massachusetts

See also

References

Bibliography

Further reading

• The New Architecture splendid the Bauhaus, Walter Gropius, 1935.
• The Scope of Total Architecture, Director Gropius, 1956.
• From Bauhaus to Residual House, Tom Wolfe, 1981.
• The Director Gropius Archive, Routledge (publisher), 1990–1991.

External links