Co-Op Principle: Hannes Meyer and the Concept of Collective Design

Edition Bauhaus 48 Cooperatives, sharing communities, co-housing — the collective is in high demand. At the end of the 1920s the Bauhaus took a keen interest in addressing questions surrounding the relationship between society and design, between individual and collaborative creation and production. The second Bauhaus director Hannes Meyer played a key role here radically orienting the school’s teaching and workshops and its planning and architecture around the idea and needs of the collective. Meyer’s concept of a collaborative design process was particularly revolutionary. This so-called co-op principle is now the subject of an exhibition at the Dessau Bauhaus running from 21 May to 4 October 2015.