“What if you could step inside the birthplace of modern design — not just see it in pictures, but touch the walls, walk the corridors, and feel history come alive?”That’s exactly what visiting Bauhaus buildings offers. The Bauhaus movement, born in Germany in 1919, was more than just an art school — it was a revolution that reshaped architecture, design, and even the way we live. Its principles of functionality, simplicity, and innovation still influence everything from furniture to skyscrapers today. But here’s the best part: many of the iconic Bauhaus buildings are still standing — and you can actually visit them. From Germany to Israel and even the United States, these structures are living museums of modernist ideals. If you’re a traveler, architecture enthusiast, or simply curious about design, here are some of the most famous Bauhaus buildings you can visit. 1. Bauhaus Dessau (Dessau, Germany) When people think of Bauhaus, this is the image that comes to mind: the Bauhaus Dessau building. Designed by Walter Gropius in 1925, this striking structure became the home of the Bauhaus school after it moved from Weimar. The building itself is a masterpiece — with its glass curtain walls, steel frame construction, and asymmetrical design. It was revolutionary at the time and remains a symbol of modern architecture. Why visit? Today, it’s open to the public as a museum and cultural center. You can tour the classrooms, studios, and even stay overnight in the student dormitories, which have been restored to their …
Famous Bauhaus buildings you can visit
“What if you could step inside the birthplace of modern design — not just see it in pictures, but touch the walls, walk the corridors, and feel history come alive?”
That’s exactly what visiting Bauhaus buildings offers. The Bauhaus movement, born in Germany in 1919, was more than just an art school — it was a revolution that reshaped architecture, design, and even the way we live. Its principles of functionality, simplicity, and innovation still influence everything from furniture to skyscrapers today.
But here’s the best part: many of the iconic Bauhaus buildings are still standing — and you can actually visit them. From Germany to Israel and even the United States, these structures are living museums of modernist ideals. If you’re a traveler, architecture enthusiast, or simply curious about design, here are some of the most famous Bauhaus buildings you can visit.
1. Bauhaus Dessau (Dessau, Germany)
When people think of Bauhaus, this is the image that comes to mind: the Bauhaus Dessau building. Designed by Walter Gropius in 1925, this striking structure became the home of the Bauhaus school after it moved from Weimar.
The building itself is a masterpiece — with its glass curtain walls, steel frame construction, and asymmetrical design. It was revolutionary at the time and remains a symbol of modern architecture.
Why visit? Today, it’s open to the public as a museum and cultural center. You can tour the classrooms, studios, and even stay overnight in the student dormitories, which have been restored to their original Bauhaus style. Walking through its halls is like stepping back into a time when design was being reinvented.
2. Bauhaus Museum Weimar (Weimar, Germany)
The Bauhaus was born in Weimar in 1919, when Walter Gropius founded the school with a vision of uniting art, craft, and technology. While the school only stayed in Weimar until 1925, its influence began here.
The Bauhaus Museum Weimar houses original works from the early years, including furniture, textiles, and teaching materials. While the original buildings from this period were modest compared to Dessau, the museum provides incredible insight into the school’s radical beginnings.
Why visit? For architecture lovers, the highlight is exploring the town itself. Weimar still has several early Bauhaus sites, including the Haus am Horn, a prototype modernist home built for the Bauhaus exhibition in 1923.
3. Haus am Horn (Weimar, Germany)
The Haus am Horn is a small but groundbreaking building — and a must-visit for Bauhaus fans. Designed by Georg Muche, it was constructed in 1923 as the first fully realized Bauhaus architectural project.
The house may look simple today, but it was revolutionary: a cube-shaped design with functional interiors, built-in furniture, and open layouts. It embodied the Bauhaus philosophy of practicality and minimalism.
Why visit? Walking through Haus am Horn gives you a glimpse of how Bauhaus ideas influenced modern living spaces around the world.
4. Masters’ Houses (Dessau, Germany)
Just a short walk from the Bauhaus Dessau are the Masters’ Houses — residences designed by Gropius for the Bauhaus faculty, including artists like Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, and Lyonel Feininger.
These houses were built as white, cubic structures with large windows, flat roofs, and functional layouts. Each house was a laboratory for modern living, where Bauhaus principles were applied in real life.
Why visit? Today, the Masters’ Houses are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and open to the public. Some have been reconstructed after being destroyed in WWII, but they remain powerful examples of how Bauhaus influenced domestic architecture.
5. White City of Tel Aviv (Tel Aviv, Israel)
Surprisingly, one of the largest collections of Bauhaus buildings isn’t in Germany — it’s in Tel Aviv, Israel. In the 1930s, many Bauhaus-trained architects fled Nazi Germany and brought their modernist vision to the growing city of Tel Aviv.
The result? Over 4,000 Bauhaus-style buildings, creating what’s now called the White City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These buildings are characterized by simple lines, functional balconies, flat roofs, and light-colored facades, adapted to Tel Aviv’s Mediterranean climate.
Why visit? Take a walking tour of Rothschild Boulevard and Bialik Street to see how Bauhaus ideals transformed Tel Aviv into a “living Bauhaus museum.”
6. Fagus Factory (Alfeld, Germany)
Built even before the Bauhaus school officially opened, the Fagus Factory (1911–1913) designed by Walter Gropius and Adolf Meyer is often considered a pre-Bauhaus landmark.
Its glass façade and clean lines foreshadowed the Bauhaus style and later influenced factories and office buildings worldwide.
Why visit? The Fagus Factory is still in operation but also open to visitors. It’s an incredible chance to see where modern industrial architecture truly began.
7. Bauhaus Archive / Museum of Design (Berlin, Germany)
While Berlin doesn’t have as many original Bauhaus buildings as Weimar or Dessau, it hosts the Bauhaus Archive, which preserves the world’s largest collection of Bauhaus documents, designs, and artifacts.
The building itself was designed by Walter Gropius, though it was completed after his death. It’s a striking example of Bauhaus-inspired architecture, with its angular roof forms and functional layout.
Why visit? For anyone who wants to understand the breadth of Bauhaus influence — from furniture and typography to architecture and art — this is the place.
8. Illinois Institute of Technology Campus (Chicago, USA)
When the Bauhaus was forced to close in 1933, many of its leaders emigrated to the United States, bringing their ideas with them. Mies van der Rohe, the last director of Bauhaus, became head of the architecture school at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago.
Here, he designed several buildings, including Crown Hall, which embodies Bauhaus ideals with its open-plan design, steel-and-glass structure, and minimalist aesthetic.
Why visit? Walking across the IIT campus feels like exploring Bauhaus ideas transplanted into the American context. Crown Hall is still considered one of Mies’s greatest works.
Why Bauhaus Buildings Still Matter
Visiting Bauhaus buildings isn’t just an architectural tour — it’s a journey into the heart of modern design. These structures:
- Revolutionized architecture with clean lines, open spaces, and functionality.
- Inspired global movements, influencing everything from minimalism to corporate skyscrapers.
- Connected art and life, blending design, craftsmanship, and everyday living.
More than a century later, Bauhaus buildings still feel fresh, proving that good design never goes out of style.
Final Thoughts
From Weimar to Tel Aviv, Chicago to Berlin, Bauhaus buildings stand as living testaments to one of the most influential design movements in history. They’re not just landmarks — they’re experiences. Walking through their halls, you don’t just see architecture; you feel the spirit of innovation, creativity, and functionality that changed the world.
So next time you plan your travels, add a Bauhaus building to your itinerary. Because visiting these places isn’t just sightseeing — it’s stepping into the future imagined more than 100 years ago.
Team ArchThread
