# What is Bauhaus?
**Bauhaus was a German art and architecture school that existed from 1919 to 1933 and had an enormous influence on modern architecture and design.** Founded by architect Walter Gropius in Weimar, the school pursued the unity of art, craft, and industry.
## Core principles
– **Functionalism** — form follows function; no superfluous decoration
– **Unity of art and technology** — artists and craftspeople working together
– **Industrial production** — designs suitable for mass production
– **Geometric forms** — clean lines, right angles, and simple volumes
– **New materials** — use of steel, glass, and concrete
## Characteristics in architecture
Bauhaus buildings are recognisable by:
– Flat roofs
– White or light-coloured facades
– Large glass surfaces and ribbon windows
– Asymmetrical compositions
– Absence of ornament
– Visible construction elements
## Influence
The Bauhaus was closed by the Nazis in 1933, but its ideas spread worldwide as teachers emigrated. Its influence is visible in the International Style, post-war housing, modern furniture design, and contemporary architecture.
## Related terms
– Functionalism
– Modernism
– International Style
– Flat roof
– Frame construction
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