Walter Gropius's 1926 glass-and-steel school building, designed as an architectural manifesto of Bauhaus design principles, remains one of the most studied buildings of the 20th century.
Rising Nazi political pressure in Thuringia forced the Bauhaus to leave Weimar in 1925, and Dessau's mayor, Fritz Hesse, offered the school a new home along with funding for a purpose-built campus. Gropius's design linked workshop, classroom, and administration wings around a bridge, expressing the Bauhaus philosophy that structure and function should be visible rather than concealed by applied ornament; the workshop wing's continuous glass curtain wall became one of the most reproduced images in architectural history. The school operated here from 1926 until 1932, when a newly Nazi-aligned Dessau city council forced its closure, after which it moved briefly to Berlin before being fully dissolved in 1933 under direct Nazi pressure.
| Admission | Combined ticket typically €18-20 (~$19-22) adult |
|---|---|
| Hours | Mar-Oct: Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00; Nov-Feb: Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00 |
| Address | Gropiusallee 38, 06846 Dessau-Rosslau, Germany |
Why it matters
The purpose-built home of the Bauhaus school after its 1925 relocation from Weimar, and one of the most influential buildings in the history of modern architecture.
Site facts
- Built
- 1925-1926
- Style
- Bauhaus / International Style
- UNESCO listing
- UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996
Weather through the year in Germany
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Germany.
Location
Gropiusallee 38, 06846 Dessau-Rosslau, Germany
51.8398, 12.2419 View on map
Highlights
- Continuous glass curtain wall on the workshop wing
- Bridge building housing former administration offices
- UNESCO World Heritage listing since 1996
- Active use as a design school 1926-1932
Tips for visiting
- Entry requires a timed one-hour slot - book ahead, especially on weekends
- Combine with the nearby Masters' Houses for the fuller Bauhaus history
When to visit
Any season; book the timed entry slot ahead for weekends.
Accessibility
Ground floor and main workshop wing wheelchair accessible; some upper studio areas reached by stairs only.
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Frequently asked questions
Why did the Bauhaus move to Dessau?
Rising Nazi political pressure in Thuringia forced the school out of Weimar in 1925; Dessau's mayor offered a new home and funded the purpose-built campus designed by Gropius.