On Location: Bauhaus Design on a Random Munich Street Corner
Tucked off the main thoroughfare, in a maze of alleys far from foot traffic and cars to admire, three gleaming cylindrical pillars stand tall and proud against the corner of a modern building. They prominently flank the clean lined siding as if performing a function that we should all understand. At the top of each pillar is a black accordion detail, adding another unknown function, yet graphic element to the entire look.
In front of the cylinders is a street pole, disseminating important information to anyone who cares to read. Einbahstrasse states the blue arrow pointing right, signaling the start of the one way street. Feuerwehranfahrtzone labels the red x sign indicating information only a native speaker would understand. Resting against the pole is an inviting shiny red bike with a playful front basket, it’s kickstand waiting to be pushed to the side for an adventurous jaunt through the city.
This unsuspecting location was a scene that screamed German-style Bauhaus design to me (although this art style was not centered in Munich.) Linear lines, graphic forms, and bold colors formed an abstract composition that seems unlikely to be serendipitous. Although this location was well off any tourist map, it’s one that is memorable for me from my 3 days in Munich. As random and uninteresting it may seem to others, it was a snapshot of my impression of German aesthetics staring me in the face. A picture well worth taking.
To satisfy my design passion, I decided I would use the picture to make an illustration in a traditional Bauhaus style. With a little abstraction of the scene and the addition to type, it makes a fun postcard, notecard, or travel poster.
So head over to my Wanderlust Designer shop and have this design printed up. It’s a great souvenir with a classic Bauhaus look, perfect for a fellow design friend or to satisfy your wanderlust dreams.
Resources
Bauhaus Munich Germany Travel Poster