DESIGN lovers should not miss Thuringia in Germany this year.

May 24 2009 by Gordon Barr, Sunday Sun

Bauhaus, the most influential design school of the 20th century, was founded in the Thuringian town of Weimar 90 years ago, and the anniversary is celebrated with exhibitions and events in Weimar, Jena, Erfurt, Apolda and Germany’s capital Berlin.

Weimar

In 1919, Walter Gropius established the Bauhaus School in Weimar and assembled the European avant garde, including Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee and Lyonel Feininger to teach.

As the most famous example of Bauhaus architecture, Haus am Horn was built as a model house for an architecture exhibition in 1923.

Visitors to Weimar can book guided tours and the Bauhaus Museum has the “Bauhaus – the classical view” exhibition until July 5.

Jena

The municipal theatre in Jena, demolished in the 80s, was the first building to put Bauhaus principles into practice. Kandinsky’s paintings, drawings and prints are at Jena’s town museum from September 6 to November 22.

Erfurt

In the 1920s, industrialists, art patrons and local art associations promoted modern artists in Erfurt. Shoemaker Alfred Hess raised the profile of Bauhaus architecture by commissioning several commercial buildings, now striking features.

Dessau

In 1926 the Bauhaus School moved from Weimar to Dessau, to a building designed by Walter Gropius. Today’s “Bauhaus Dessau – Centre of Design” is a vibrant institution specialising in experimental design and offers guided tours. The “master houses” built in 1925-26 unite the Bauhaus concepts of living and working and visitors can tour some of them.

Berlin

From July 22 to October 4, Berlin’s Martin Gropius Bau features the first joint exhibition of the three German Bauhaus institutions in Berlin, Dessau and Weimar. “Bauhaus Model” is organised in cooperation with the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Bauhaus Card and Bauhaus breaks

Visitors buying tickets for a Bauhaus exhibition in Thuringia (Jena, Erfurt, Weimar and Apolda) can use them for free entry to more than 60 other tourist attractions in Thuringia.

The two-days/one night “Bauhaus and highlights of Thuringia” break starts from 89 euros per person in a double room (three-star hotel) and includes accommodation and breakfast in a Bauhaus town, the Bauhaus card and an information package. Visit bauhaus2009.itsrv.de and www.thueringen-tourismus.de.