Timeline of Major Events |
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A Brief Overview
Since its establishment in 1213, Dessau has faced many changes in housing/infrastructure and transportation. These changes become evident through four main time periods: the medieval era, the Bauhaus era, the GDR era, and Dessau today. Through said time periods, we are also able to better understand the presence of Bauhaus and influential planners, as well as their effects on Dessau and their global impact.
Regarding transportation, Dessau can be described as being multi-modal, with transportation options ranging from bikes, buses, trams, and cars. Due to Dessau’s small size and language barriers within our research, there is limited information in this area. However, in 2006, Dessau declared its goal to ensure access to industrial sites and to encourage the use of bicycles. Dessau seeks to provide pedestrians and cyclists the same priority as buses and trains.
In terms of housing and infrastructure, Dessau was based on Prince Leopold III Friedrich Franz’s ideas from the 16th and 17th centuries centered on unison between people and nature [3]. This principle is demonstrated by the Dessau-Worlitz Garden Realm, which integrated gardens, vistas, and architectural structures into the countryside. However, due to the Bauhaus, WWII and Nazi control, and the GDR’s rigidity, there are certain challenges and changes in regards to housing. Prior to WWII, Dessau had a thriving economy but still faced housing shortages. With the presence of Bauhaus, Dessau saw the creation of many housing projects, such as the Torten Estates designed by Walter Gropius and funded by the City of Dessau. Bauhaus sought to address the lack of housing with cost efficient and mass housing. Then due to WWII, there was a need for housing, leading to the construction of barracks, dethatched houses, and row houses. Because of Dessau’s role as an industrial zone during WWII, this was one of the largest housing construction periods in the western portion of the city. During the GDR era, housing was likewise a focal point, seeing as it served as an opportunity to expand both industry and power. Thus, the use of prefabricated housing continued. Although projects were initiated to address the production of mass housing, they were never completed, which represented the government’s failure to provide for its people. Simultaneously, Dessau’s roads and telephone technology was becoming outdated. These conditions motivated people to relocate elsewhere. When Saxony-Anhalt’s industrial sector collapsed in 1990, many residents moved outwards as well. To address its shrinking population, Dessau joined the city of RoBlau. However, Dessau’s population continues to decrease, leaving a surplus of housing [8]. Other contributing factors to its declining population are the damage and consequential repair spending it faced during WWII.
Since 2004, Dessau has created more green spaces in an attempt to redefine the idea of vacant spaces as being an asset to urban communities [3]. Regardless of these initiatives, Dessau is addressed as a “dying city” due to its lack of youth and vast older population. Even with the intervention of community gardens, not many residents have the interest in continuing to develop their city, especially given the present population. Dessau does not have the means to implement change, such as a young demographic and funding to support said initiatives.
However, the Bauhaus movement in Dessau has proven to be influential not only in Dessau but also elsewhere. Influential planners of Dessau, such as Ludiwg Mies Van Der Rohe are responsible for key aspects of modernism, such as the idea that “less is more,” meaning that simplicity was bound to represent more. Although the Bauhaus movement spanned only 14 years, it had a lasting impact that is evident in education, art, and design. Regardless of the fact that Bauhaus was shut down, its influence can still be seen globally. Bauhaus educators moved on to become professors elsewhere, such as Josef Albers at Black Mountain College in North Carolina, or László Moholy-Nagy, who directed the New Bauhaus in Chicago. Bauhaus students themselves also spread the movement’s ideology into their own hometowns. Bauhaus ideals are especially evident in European and American architecture.
Regarding transportation, Dessau can be described as being multi-modal, with transportation options ranging from bikes, buses, trams, and cars. Due to Dessau’s small size and language barriers within our research, there is limited information in this area. However, in 2006, Dessau declared its goal to ensure access to industrial sites and to encourage the use of bicycles. Dessau seeks to provide pedestrians and cyclists the same priority as buses and trains.
In terms of housing and infrastructure, Dessau was based on Prince Leopold III Friedrich Franz’s ideas from the 16th and 17th centuries centered on unison between people and nature [3]. This principle is demonstrated by the Dessau-Worlitz Garden Realm, which integrated gardens, vistas, and architectural structures into the countryside. However, due to the Bauhaus, WWII and Nazi control, and the GDR’s rigidity, there are certain challenges and changes in regards to housing. Prior to WWII, Dessau had a thriving economy but still faced housing shortages. With the presence of Bauhaus, Dessau saw the creation of many housing projects, such as the Torten Estates designed by Walter Gropius and funded by the City of Dessau. Bauhaus sought to address the lack of housing with cost efficient and mass housing. Then due to WWII, there was a need for housing, leading to the construction of barracks, dethatched houses, and row houses. Because of Dessau’s role as an industrial zone during WWII, this was one of the largest housing construction periods in the western portion of the city. During the GDR era, housing was likewise a focal point, seeing as it served as an opportunity to expand both industry and power. Thus, the use of prefabricated housing continued. Although projects were initiated to address the production of mass housing, they were never completed, which represented the government’s failure to provide for its people. Simultaneously, Dessau’s roads and telephone technology was becoming outdated. These conditions motivated people to relocate elsewhere. When Saxony-Anhalt’s industrial sector collapsed in 1990, many residents moved outwards as well. To address its shrinking population, Dessau joined the city of RoBlau. However, Dessau’s population continues to decrease, leaving a surplus of housing [8]. Other contributing factors to its declining population are the damage and consequential repair spending it faced during WWII.
Since 2004, Dessau has created more green spaces in an attempt to redefine the idea of vacant spaces as being an asset to urban communities [3]. Regardless of these initiatives, Dessau is addressed as a “dying city” due to its lack of youth and vast older population. Even with the intervention of community gardens, not many residents have the interest in continuing to develop their city, especially given the present population. Dessau does not have the means to implement change, such as a young demographic and funding to support said initiatives.
However, the Bauhaus movement in Dessau has proven to be influential not only in Dessau but also elsewhere. Influential planners of Dessau, such as Ludiwg Mies Van Der Rohe are responsible for key aspects of modernism, such as the idea that “less is more,” meaning that simplicity was bound to represent more. Although the Bauhaus movement spanned only 14 years, it had a lasting impact that is evident in education, art, and design. Regardless of the fact that Bauhaus was shut down, its influence can still be seen globally. Bauhaus educators moved on to become professors elsewhere, such as Josef Albers at Black Mountain College in North Carolina, or László Moholy-Nagy, who directed the New Bauhaus in Chicago. Bauhaus students themselves also spread the movement’s ideology into their own hometowns. Bauhaus ideals are especially evident in European and American architecture.
Citations
Literature:
[1] Kähler, G. (2009). The path of modernism: Vfrom the world heritage of Wroclaw to that of Dessau, Architecture 1900-1930. Berlin: Jovis.
[2] Gutmann, M. P. (n.d.). The Origins of the Thirty Years' War. The MIT Press. Retrieved July 31, 2018, from The Origins of the Thirty Years' War.
[3]UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (n.d.). Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz. Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/534
[4]Bauhaus 1919-1933 - A Chronology. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://www.bauhaus-dessau.de/bauhaus-1919-193331.html
[5]Deutsche Welle, W. (n.d.). German city Dessau experiments with rewilding | DW | 24.06.2016. Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://www.dw.com/en/german-city-dessau-experiments-with-rewilding/a-19351244
[6]Dessau-Roßlau. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://www.open-iba.de/en/geschichte/2002-2010-iba-stadtumbau/dessau-rosslau/
[7]The Bauhaus – A reunified German cult site. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://www.goethe.de/en/kul/ges/20605441.html
[8]Winkel, E. (n.d.). Urban restructuring in Dessau-Roßlau. Retrieved July 29, 2018, from http://www.eukn.eu/e-library/project/bericht/eventDetail/urban-restructuring-in-dessau-rosslau/
[9]Dredge, A. (2017, April 29). Bauhaus and the International Style. Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://wsimag.com/architecture-and-design/25082-bauhaus-and-the-international-style
[10]The Bauhaus Dessau. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://www.bauhaus-dessau.de/en/history/bauhaus-dessau/the-bauhaus-dessau.html
[11]UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (n.d.). Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar, Dessau and Bernau. Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/729/multiple=1&unique_number=2158
Images:
[12]Cycle tours from Bad Schandau to Dessau along the Elbe River. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://www.augustustours.de/en/cycle-holidays/elbe-cycle-path/bad-schandau-dessau.html
[13]Anhalt. (2018, June 29). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anhalt
[14]Thirty Years' War. (2018, July 31). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years'_War
[15]The Ratification of the Treaty of Münster, Gerard ter Borch (II), 1648. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/SK-C-1683
[16]Fasbender, M. (n.d.). About Wörlitz - Sightseeings & Guided Tours - Guided Tours trough the Park and the Town of Wörlitz. Retrieved July 31, 2018, from http://www.woerlitz-information.de/woerlitz-en/ku/fu_pa.php
[17]Leonardo-socorro de brisach. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leonardo-socorro_de_brisach.jpg
[18]Weimar UNESCO WHS: Bauhaus Old and New. (2017, December 03). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://fotoeins.com/2015/08/24/weimar-unesco-whs-bauhaus-old-and-new/
[19]Searching in History. (1970, January 01). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://searchinginhistory.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-industrial-revolution-of-germany.html
[20]UNESCO-Welterbe. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://www.bauhaus-dessau.de/unesco-weltkulturerbe-1.html
[21]C. (2017, March 10). The Bauhaus Movement. Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://caitlinemersoncontextualstudies.wordpress.com/2017/03/10/the-bauhaus-movement/
[22]El Bauhaus de Hannes Meyer en México •. (2017, May 03). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://sugarandspice.mx/2017/05/02/el-bauhaus-de-hannes-meyer-en-mexico/
[23]Art Deco Bauhaus DeStijl. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://www.pinterest.co.uk/roudavina/art-deco- -bauhaus- -destijl/
[24]Deutsche Welle. (n.d.). German city Dessau experiments with rewilding | DW | 24.06.2016. Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://www.dw.com/en/german-city-dessau-experiments-with-rewilding/a-19351244
[25]Northeastern School of Architecture. (n.d.). Mass.Production. Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://issuu.com/neuarchitecture/docs/mass.production_issuu
[26]Historical Photos. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from http://historicalphotosdaily.blogspot.com/search/label/WW2 City destruction
[27]Mindel, L. F., & F. (2015, September 16). Tour the Gropius House and the Codman Residence in Lincoln, Massachusetts. Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/gropius-house-codman-residence-article
[28]ADGB Union School - Data, Photos & Plans. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/building/adgb-union-school/
[1] Kähler, G. (2009). The path of modernism: Vfrom the world heritage of Wroclaw to that of Dessau, Architecture 1900-1930. Berlin: Jovis.
[2] Gutmann, M. P. (n.d.). The Origins of the Thirty Years' War. The MIT Press. Retrieved July 31, 2018, from The Origins of the Thirty Years' War.
[3]UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (n.d.). Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz. Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/534
[4]Bauhaus 1919-1933 - A Chronology. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://www.bauhaus-dessau.de/bauhaus-1919-193331.html
[5]Deutsche Welle, W. (n.d.). German city Dessau experiments with rewilding | DW | 24.06.2016. Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://www.dw.com/en/german-city-dessau-experiments-with-rewilding/a-19351244
[6]Dessau-Roßlau. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://www.open-iba.de/en/geschichte/2002-2010-iba-stadtumbau/dessau-rosslau/
[7]The Bauhaus – A reunified German cult site. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://www.goethe.de/en/kul/ges/20605441.html
[8]Winkel, E. (n.d.). Urban restructuring in Dessau-Roßlau. Retrieved July 29, 2018, from http://www.eukn.eu/e-library/project/bericht/eventDetail/urban-restructuring-in-dessau-rosslau/
[9]Dredge, A. (2017, April 29). Bauhaus and the International Style. Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://wsimag.com/architecture-and-design/25082-bauhaus-and-the-international-style
[10]The Bauhaus Dessau. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://www.bauhaus-dessau.de/en/history/bauhaus-dessau/the-bauhaus-dessau.html
[11]UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (n.d.). Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar, Dessau and Bernau. Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/729/multiple=1&unique_number=2158
Images:
[12]Cycle tours from Bad Schandau to Dessau along the Elbe River. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://www.augustustours.de/en/cycle-holidays/elbe-cycle-path/bad-schandau-dessau.html
[13]Anhalt. (2018, June 29). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anhalt
[14]Thirty Years' War. (2018, July 31). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirty_Years'_War
[15]The Ratification of the Treaty of Münster, Gerard ter Borch (II), 1648. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/SK-C-1683
[16]Fasbender, M. (n.d.). About Wörlitz - Sightseeings & Guided Tours - Guided Tours trough the Park and the Town of Wörlitz. Retrieved July 31, 2018, from http://www.woerlitz-information.de/woerlitz-en/ku/fu_pa.php
[17]Leonardo-socorro de brisach. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leonardo-socorro_de_brisach.jpg
[18]Weimar UNESCO WHS: Bauhaus Old and New. (2017, December 03). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://fotoeins.com/2015/08/24/weimar-unesco-whs-bauhaus-old-and-new/
[19]Searching in History. (1970, January 01). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://searchinginhistory.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-industrial-revolution-of-germany.html
[20]UNESCO-Welterbe. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://www.bauhaus-dessau.de/unesco-weltkulturerbe-1.html
[21]C. (2017, March 10). The Bauhaus Movement. Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://caitlinemersoncontextualstudies.wordpress.com/2017/03/10/the-bauhaus-movement/
[22]El Bauhaus de Hannes Meyer en México •. (2017, May 03). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://sugarandspice.mx/2017/05/02/el-bauhaus-de-hannes-meyer-en-mexico/
[23]Art Deco Bauhaus DeStijl. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://www.pinterest.co.uk/roudavina/art-deco- -bauhaus- -destijl/
[24]Deutsche Welle. (n.d.). German city Dessau experiments with rewilding | DW | 24.06.2016. Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://www.dw.com/en/german-city-dessau-experiments-with-rewilding/a-19351244
[25]Northeastern School of Architecture. (n.d.). Mass.Production. Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://issuu.com/neuarchitecture/docs/mass.production_issuu
[26]Historical Photos. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from http://historicalphotosdaily.blogspot.com/search/label/WW2 City destruction
[27]Mindel, L. F., & F. (2015, September 16). Tour the Gropius House and the Codman Residence in Lincoln, Massachusetts. Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/gropius-house-codman-residence-article
[28]ADGB Union School - Data, Photos & Plans. (n.d.). Retrieved July 31, 2018, from https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/building/adgb-union-school/