Special Event
World Architecture Day: Bauhaus-Fest

Sun, 10/06/2019
11:00 AM National Building Museum

The Bauhaus (1919-1933) was a German art school that imagined a better world and launched some of the greatest architects, designers and artists of the 20th century—including Mies van der Rohe, architect of DC’s own MLK Library. Yet the school’s social vision was eclipsed by World War II and the rise of a fascist regime. Today we see traces of Bauhaus design everywhere—but what became of its utopian ideals? Further, what new perspective does this history offer on present-day challenges of inequality and shrinking public space?

Finding the Bauhaus in the Public Library is a new public program series celebrating the 100th anniversary of the German Bauhaus school (1919-1933) and the modernization of DC's own architectural landmark, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library—designed by the last director of the Bauhaus, Mies van der Rohe.

World Architecture Day: Bauhaus-Fest

Explore architecture in the Building Museum’s collections and through talks and activities for all ages with a special emphasis on the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus, the German art school founded in 1919 by Walter Gropius. 

Some activities are designed for particular ages and/or have limited group size.

11 am–3 pm, ongoing
Virtual Tour of the Bauhaus
Take a virtual reality tour exploring the Bauhaus school’s building in Dessau, Germany.

Community-Created Architecture Manifesto
Following the example of the Bauhaus originators, contribute your design vision for the future through a community-created manifesto.

Build It Like the Bauhaus
Bring the youngest family members to practice design and construction using simple shapes and primary colors inspired by Bauhaus design principles. Designed for children under 5 years old.

Story Time
Limited space
Celebrate modern architecture around the world with the DC Public Library – enjoy a story time, check out a book. Designed for children under 5 years old

11:30 am–1 pm*
Discover Design-Discover Bauhaus Family Workshop
Limited space
Discover Bauhaus theoretical concepts and design a Bauhaus-inspired chair. Designed for youth ages 8 and older, with adult companion.

11:30 am–Noon* and 1–1:30 pm* 
Museum Collections Tour
Limited space
Tour the Museum’s collections, including the Raymond Kaskey architectural art collection and David Kemnitzer’s paper model collection, highlights from our World’s Fair House of Tomorrow furniture, the Architectural Toy collection, and David Weingarten Collection of 20th Century Souvenir Buildings.

*Onsite registration for the Discover Design-Discover Bauhaus Workshop and Museum Collections Tours begin at 11 am and are first come, first served. An adult companion is required for youth under 18 attending the 11:30 am–1pm Discover Design-Discover Bauhaus Workshop.

1–3 pm
Discover Design-Discover Bauhaus Drop-in Workshop
Stop by to learn how to create a simple chair design based on Bauhaus design principals. All ages.

1:30–2 pm 
Talk: Bauhaus Now-haus         
Learn about Bauhaus’ impact and legacy with Museum curator Susan Piedmont-Palladino.

This community day is produced in conjunction with the Wunderbar Together-Germany and the US initiative and in partnership with the Goethe-Institut, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the DC Public Library.
 
This event does not require an RSVP.
 
Price: Free Admission