“Design nature”: A color interpretation of Bauhaus school building in Dessau and its conceptual origins

Abstract

In modernist architecture, color serves as a crucial tool in shaping spatial experiences. However, due to historical reasons, the color design of early modernist architecture has not been fully explored. The paper focuses on the iconic modernist work, the Bauhaus school building in Dessau. Through historical investigation and theoretical research, it elucidates the evolution of color cognition from the perspectives of color theory development, architectural color characteristics, and the interaction between visual perception and color. On this basis, it explores the color theory origins of the Bauhaus and Gropius, dissecting the conceptual framework and methods behind the color design of the Bauhaus school building in Dessau. Additionally, this article analyzes the spatial characteristics of architectural color from an experiential standpoint. The paper argues that Gropius conveyed his concept of “natural perspective” through color design, emphasizing the eternal value of natural internal logic. The Bauhaus redefined the role of color in architectural expression, based on natural laws, and deduced a scientifically designed method related to perception, promoting a shift in color design from subjective to objective and injecting deeper connotations into architectural color.

Keywords

Dessau Bauhaus / Walter Gropius / Architectural space color design / Educational philosophy / Origin tracing research

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