Walter Gropius

Walter Gropius (1883-1969) was a German architect and designer, founder of the Bauhaus in 1919, a school that revolutionized modern design and architecture, combining art, craftsmanship and industry. Pioneer of Functionalism, he promoted simple and essential forms, based on functionality. With the rise of Nazism he emigrated to the USA, where he taught at Harvard, influencing generations of architects. Among his most famous works are the Bauhaus Building in Dessau and the Pan Am Building in New York, evidence of his impact on 20th century architecture.