Explaining the Impact of the Bauhaus Approach on the Architectural Works of Fine Arts Students of Tehran University(With Emphasis on the Pahlavi Period)

Problem statement: 

With Iran’s entry into the threshold of modernization and the establishment of the University of Tehran in the year 1934 (1313 AH) and the gradual formation of the Faculty of Fine Arts until 1940 (1319 AH), art and architecture education took a new approach towards academic methods. Academic experiences for approximately two centuries have shown how architecture is taught has a significant impact on the formation of architects’ personalities and is reflected in their architectural works. One of the most influential academic institutions in this regard is the Bauhaus School in Germany. The Faculty of Fine Arts, as the first academic center for architectural education in Iran, has also demonstrated explicit interactions with many of these schools, including the Bauhaus, in terms of adopting innovative teaching methods. The influence of the predominant approach of the Bauhaus School can be observed in the examination of the works of professors and students. 

The objective of this research is to examine the Bauhaus approach in Germany, identify the patterns of this style, and trace them in the architectural structures of the Pahlavi era, which include the works of professors and students of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Tehran. 

This study is interpretive-historical, and as a result, the analysis of the findings and the influence of the fine arts are approached through a descriptive-analytical research method. To achieve this, several examples of buildings constructed by professors and students of the Bauhaus School were examined. The main design features have been extracted through the examination of these samples and interviews. Then, by systematically weighing the indicators using a developed formula, the degree of affiliation of each architectural work to this style was determined.

The results of the research indicate that the influence of the fine arts from the Bauhaus approach can be seen during the period of Emmanuel Pontremoli’s management. The commonly used architectural parameters of this style include flat roofs, the use of modern materials and technology, a balance in the composition of volumes and facade elements, and functional beauty. These features are more pronounced compared to other characteristics, such as white facades and pilotis.