Werkbund Exhibition (1914) facts for kids
The first Werkbund Exhibition in 1914 was a big event held in Cologne, Germany. It was organized by the Deutscher Werkbund, a group of talented people who wanted to make German products and buildings better and more beautiful. They believed that art, industry, and craftsmanship should work together.
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What Was the Werkbund Exhibition?
The Deutscher Werkbund was a special group of professionals. They included artists, designers, and business people. Their main goal was to improve German products and buildings. They wanted to do this by bringing together art, industry, and skilled work. They used education, books, and talks to share their ideas. Some of the people who started this group were Hermann Muthesius, Peter Behrens, and Walter Gropius.
The 1914 Werkbund Exhibition in Cologne was the very first big show organized by this group. It opened its doors on May 15, 1914. Sadly, the exhibition only lasted for three months. It had to close early because World War I began.
Amazing Buildings at the Exhibition
The exhibition featured many new and exciting buildings. Each one showed off different ideas about design and architecture.
The Glass Pavilion (Glashaus)
The amazing Glass Pavilion was designed by a German architect named Bruno Taut in 1914. This building was very new and different for its time. It is seen as an early example of a style called Expressionist architecture. This means it showed strong feelings and new ideas through its design. German glass companies helped pay for it to show how glass could be used in buildings.
The Werkbund Pavilion
The Werkbund Pavilion was a special building designed by Walter Gropius and Adolf Meyer. It was built to look like a modern factory and office building. It showed how new designs could be used for workplaces.
The Color Show Pavilion (Farbenschau Pavillon)
The Color Show Pavilion was designed by Hermann Muthesius. It had a classic, grand style called Neoclassical architecture. This building had a large dome on top and tall columns at the front. Inside, it showed off different chemical dyes and colors.
The Festive Hall
The Festive Hall was designed by Peter Behrens. It also had a neoclassical style, similar to old Roman and Greek buildings. It looked a bit like the designs of a famous architect named Palladio.
The Werkbund Theater
The Werkbund Theater was designed by a Belgian architect named Henri van de Velde. This theater building was very modern. It helped start a new style of building known today as the International Style. This style focuses on clean lines and simple shapes. The Werkbund Theater was even shown in a famous book by Walter Gropius.
Art Inside and Out
The theater building also featured many artworks by German artists. Outside, in front of the theater, there was a fountain with a sculpture by Georg Kolbe. This sculpture showed a human figure standing in water.
Another artist, Hermann Obrist, created several sculptures around the theater. Some were flat sculptures that looked like eyes. He also made two freestanding sculptures. One of these was a fountain, but it didn't have any water. Obrist's art often had a nature theme, but his designs were sharp and pointy. This was very different from the smooth style of the building.
Inside the theater, there were more art contributions. These included a sculpture by Milly Steger and painted murals by Ludwig von Hofmann. Lisa Brentano also created painted tiles for the theater.
See also
- Expressionism
- Deutscher Werkbund
