As an international construction services provider, HOCHTIEF has a commitment to contemporary architectural history. So Bauhaus and modern architecture are key sponsoring and promotion areas for the Group. In the 1990s, the company completely restored the Kandinsky/Klee Masters’ House built by Walter Gropius in Dessau, Germany, to its original form. And we have supported renowned exhibitions—not least by providing objects from the Group’s own Bauhaus collection. The company’s acquisitions include a “Bauhaus Meistermappe 1923” containing works by Kandinsky and Klee, and masterpieces by Feininger and Muche. This is more than social engagement on the part of HOCHTIEF; these activities help intensify dialog with clients, employees and the general public beyond the scope of construction as such. Our aim here is to make the art of Bauhaus accessible to as large an audience as possible.
Ninety years of Bauhaus
Bauhaus turned 90 in 2009 with a number of high-caliber exhibitions supported by HOCHTIEF. These include:
“Bauhaus. A Conceptual Model” HOCHTIEF was a major sponsor of this exhibition in the Martin-Gropius-Bau in Berlin. It is the largest Bauhaus show ever assembled. Following the exhibition in Berlin, the objects will be presented by the cooperation partner—the renowned Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York—to commemorate its 80th anniversary. The exhibition focuses on a thematic timeline of major works and trend-setting developments in design.
“Walter Gropius: America 1928” is the title of another HOCHTIEF-sponsored exhibition in this anniversary year. The photographs taken by the Bauhaus founder and architect were first shown in the Bauhaus-Archiv in Berlin, and then moved to the Galerie im Kolkmannhaus in Wuppertal.
Additional showcases for this exhibition are the Deutsches Architekturmuseum in Frankfurt and Columbia University in New York.
“In the surrounding area—Bauhaus in Jena.” This exhibition at the Stadtmuseum Jena in summer 2009 was dedicated to the close relationship Bauhaus and its masters had with the city of Jena. In addition to the artworks, the buildings erected in Jena and links to industry were also spotlighted. HOCHTIEF provided the exhibition with 28 loans from the company collection, including postcard motifs. We also supported the show featuring paintings, drawings and graphic printing by Wassily Kandinsky at the same venue.
“The Bauhaus Comes from Weimar.” This exhibition presented by the Klassik Stiftung Weimar (Foundation of Weimar Classics) provided an overview of the early years of the legendary design school. HOCHTIEF loaned three works from the company collection for the presentation at the Goethe Nationalmuseum in Weimar.
In addition to the five exhibitions, we also supported the publication of the book “Bauhaus-Mythen” (“Bauhaus Myths”) to mark this 90th anniversary. The work documents the current status of Bauhaus research and takes a new look at the myths surrounding the legendary design school today.
Sustained commitment to Bauhaus
HOCHTIEF will remain closely connected with Bauhaus after this anniversary year has come to an end. For additional information on initiatives past, present and future, please see www.hochtief.com.