This article is a guest post from Tom Faulkner, a furniture designer who believes simplicity of line and proportion are the cornerstones of all good design and he applies this principle to everything he makes.
The Bauhaus Design School may be the most prestigious and influential design studio in the last century with regard to modern furniture. Founder and architect Walter Gropius believed that furniture served a social and societal function, and that minimalist, inexpensive design was the way to ensure everyone had access to comfortable, sophisticated furniture. This design ethic remains very much in force today, and Bauhaus-inspired designs grace every kind of building from public offices to private residences.
These 20th century modernists made metalwork their own, and reclaimed it as a material from the worlds of engineering and architecture. They adored its strength and versatility, and its aesthetic simplicity. Tubular steelwork is one of the signature trademarks of many of the sleek, modern designs is of Bauhaus furniture.
Here are five classic Bauhaus designs that you might see just about anywhere!
1. Brno chair by Mies van der Rohe
Designed by the popular German-American architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, this classic, elegant chair is still being used by the stylish and fashion conscious all over the world. Mies van der Rohe was an alumnus of the Bauhaus and coupled his unique architectural vision with the Bauhaus vision of inexpensive, easy to assemble furniture. The Brno chair has a simple chrome plated frame made of flat steel plate, which is combined with a supportive and soft upholstered seat. It is one of the most successful chairs to come out of the Bauhaus school, it is still made today under license but is also extensively copied. Beware of cheap imitations! Some places you may see this (or very similar) designs include reception areas, waiting rooms, smart offices, and high end private residences -making this design one of the most ubiquitous in the furniture industry.
