How Bauhaus Armchairs Redefined Modern Furniture Forever
Some of the most influential armchairs in history emerged from the Bauhaus movement a century ago. These designs combined beauty, durability, and comfort while rejecting excessive ornamentation. Today, their impact remains strong in modern furniture, proving that functional art never goes out of style.
The Bauhaus school, founded in 1919, reshaped furniture design under figures like Walter Gropius and Henry van de Velde. They opposed the ornate styles of Historicism, favouring functionalism inspired by movements like De Stijl. Industrialisation in the Weimar Republic pushed designers to embrace minimalism, mass production, and new materials such as steel, cane, and rattan.
Marcel Breuer's 1925 Wassily Chair (B3) became a landmark, using bent steel tubing to create the first tubular steel chair. Mart Stam followed in 1927 with the cantilevered Freischwinger, showcased at the Weissenhof Estate. Erich Dieckmann also contributed with organic woven designs, reinforcing the school's focus on simplicity and practicality.
Beyond Bauhaus, other iconic chairs emerged. Le Corbusier and Charlotte Perriand's LC2, with its sleek steel frame and cushioned seats, became a symbol of modernist elegance. Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's Barcelona Chair, designed for the 1929 International Exposition, blended luxury with geometric precision. Meanwhile, Italian designs like B&B Italia's UP5_6 offered bold shapes and plush comfort, proving that armchairs could be both artistic and inviting.
Over time, manufacturers such as Thonet and Gavina reproduced these classics, keeping their designs in production. The principles of clean lines, durability, and industrial craftsmanship ensured their lasting appeal.
From Bauhaus innovations to Italian luxury, these armchairs remain benchmarks of design. Their influence persists in contemporary furniture, demonstrating how functional art endures across generations. Whether in museums or modern homes, they continue to define what it means to merge form with purpose.
