Celebrating a century of design innovation

Dessau marks 100 years of Bauhaus with two-year program

Founded in 1919 in Weimar, Germany, the Bauhaus was a pioneering school of art, design, and architecture that transformed 20th-century aesthetics. Though it operated for only 14 years, its influence continues to shape architecture, furniture, and design education around the world.

In 1925, the Bauhaus moved from Weimar to Dessau, where it entered its most productive period. A century later, the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation is commemorating this milestone with To the Core. Bauhaus Dessau 100, a two-year program of exhibitions, lectures, and performances running from September 2025 through March 2027.

Events will be held at the Bauhaus Museum Dessau, the historic Bauhaus Building designed by Walter Gropius, and throughout the city. In March 2026, five major exhibitions will open simultaneously, exploring the materials and ideas that shaped modern design. The new digital project Invisible Bauhaus Dessau will allow visitors to virtually explore early Bauhaus sites that no longer exist.

City is home to more than 300 Bauhaus-era buildings

Dessau offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience Bauhaus in its original setting. The city is home to more than 300 Bauhaus-era buildings — including the main school, the Masters’ Houses, and the riverside Kornhaus restaurant — many of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Dessau is compact and walkable, and its Bauhaus sites can also be explored by bike, making it a natural stop between Berlin and Leipzig or as part of a longer cultural trip through Germany.

Although the Bauhaus was closed in 1933 under pressure from the National Socialist regime, its legacy remains relevant today. Its approach to uniting art, craft, and technology laid the groundwork for much of modern architecture and design. Many of its furniture pieces are still in production, and its principles continue to influence everything from European urban planning to American mid-century modern homes — shaping how we think about functional, affordable, and beautiful spaces.