Referral: Essay - Walter Gropius and Marcel Breuer

Walter Adolf Gropius was a German Architect, born on May 18, 1883 in Berlin. He received education in Munich in the years 1903-04 and in Berlin, Charlottenburg in the years 1905-07 where he studied architecture like his father. Although throughout his lifetime he matured as his ideas transferred from one Modern understanding of Arts, to another, he remained famous for his Bauhaus work and development of projects and ideas. Working with Adolph Meyer initially, and with great names such as Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe, Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, forced to emigrate from Germany, he moved to London, and then to Harvard University, where he taught Architecture and shared his ideas and concepts. Some of his most popular designs are: 

Bauhaus Building Dessau, 1915

Fagus Works, 1911

The fagus factory is located in Alfeld an der Leine, Germany. It is made from steel, brick masonry and glass and has an early modern style. It was materialized due to his connection with Peter Behrens and in co-operation with Adolph Meyer, as had been the case with most of his early structures. 

Gropius House Lincoln, MA, 1937

"Our guiding principle was that design is neither an intellectual nor a material affair, but simply an integral part of the stuff of life, necessary for everyone in a civilized society" - Walter Gropius (quote found on website: RUGU, 2013, Walter Gropius Quotes [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.rugusavay.com/walter-gropius-quotes/ [Accessed at: 06 March 2014] 

Marcel Lajos Breuer was one of my favorite architects. He focused on developing new technologies and materials into a creative style; the International Style. He was born in the year 1902, Hungary on the 21st of May and his name grew in the 20th century as one of the greatest architect and designer. With his amazing artistic abilities, he managed to win a scholarship to Vienna. He studied at the Bauhaus school in Weimar, Dessau and also worked there for a year. Right after he took the position of head of the carpentry workshop where he was known as the "young master" as the website says. Here was the place where he met Walter Gropius and with whom he moved to London to work with in 1935. In 1941, he set up his own office, which he moved to New York in 1946. Apart from architecture, Breuer became famous for his work as a furniture designer. These include 'The Wassily Chair' which was inspired by the handlebars of the bicycle. 

The Wassily Chair No. B3, 1925

This design was made specifically for Wassily Kandinsky, that is why the chair is named after him. The chair was made from a tubular steel which was polished, bent and later became chrome plated. This material is also affordable, no need for springs and hygienic. As for the rest, it was made from fabric, possibly black leather. Breuer's designs were classified as designs for modern living. 

Alvar Aalto used to make plywood furniture and these chairs are both inspired from his works. 

"The artist works with the highest level of feeling.

The technician works with the highest level of logic." - Marcel Breuer (found on website: Pinterest, 2014, Marcel Breuer quote - Bauhaus [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/2111131046728277/ [Accessed at: 06 March 2014] 

References:

- InfoLinks, 2014, 'A World History of Art', [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.all-art.org/history580-2a.html [Accessed 20 Jaunuary 2014] 

- Design Technology Department, 2014, 'Marcel Lajos Breuer' [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.design-technology.org/MarcelBreuer.htm [Accessed 20 January 2014]