Bauhaus to home This light-filled 1920s house by Walter Gropius in the German city of Jena has been restored to its former beauty

This landmark of Germ Modernism lay neglected until one couple uncovered its beauty and history

Built in 1924 by founding father of the Bauhaus, Walter Gropius, Haus Auerbach, set on the outskirts of the city of Jena, was an experiment in a new way of living. It was designed for Felix Auerbach, a respected physicist and professor of medicine, and his wife Anna, a board member of the Central German Women’s Union – both of whom were passionate about music, architecture and art.

The light, airy home, which included a music room and an indoor ‘winter garden’, was rationally designed in Gropius’s trademark style, with no unnecessary details or embellishments. As the Nazis rose to power, however, the Bauhaus, and this house, fell from grace. After the war, Haus Auerbach, then located in the communist German Democratic Republic, steadily tumbled into neglect.

Gropius strictly avoided symmetry when creating this building (you need only look at the position of the windows on the exterior above to see that), but what happened next has a pleasing consonance. In 1994, another couple, Barbara Happe and Martin Fischer – also academics with an interest in architecture and the arts – came across Haus Auerbach and decided to make it their mission to rescue it. ‘It was so special here, so different,’ says Barbara. ‘We’ve always admired Modernist architecture and knew we couldn’t be

happy anywhere else.’ She and Martin struggled through the somewhat daunting process of buying a house in former East Germany, then got to work. They stripped out all evidence of the damage that had been done in the intervening years, and reinstated original features, such as the metal-framed windows and linoleum floors. Hidden beneath layers of wallpaper, the couple rediscovered Gropius’s intended colour scheme – but it wasn’t the primary-hued palette we often associate with Bauhaus. Rather, it was an unorthodox yet nuanced combination of orange, blue and pink, with the paint applied in playful, abstract blocks of colour, instead of wall-by-wall.

Adopting this scheme was no challenge for Barbara and Martin, who already collected mid-century furniture and, since moving in, have gradually acquired more classic pieces that sit happily in this environment. ‘We see ourselves as custodians of the house, and we love living with the Bauhaus colour palette,’ says Barbara. ‘It’s sophisticated, but full of joy.’ haus-auerbach.de

Living room Originally the music room, this space features a ‘Barcelona’ sofa and chair by Mies van der Rohe for Knoll. The seats are grouped around a ‘Table d’Or’ (filled with gold leaf) by Yves Klein, while the ‘Hanging Lamp’ by Gerrit Reitveld is positioned in the corner of the room. The tapestry is from Barbara Müller’s ‘Stella by Starlight’ series, and the ‘Bird’ chair and ottoman are by Harry Bertoia for Knoll Stockist details on p188

Study A pair of ‘Diamond’ chairs by Harry Bertoia for Knoll are teamed with an ‘MR’ table by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, also for Knoll. The large abstract paintings are by German artist Georg Thumbach Exterior This minimalist, blocky façade is typical of the Bauhaus style Stockist details on p188

Dining room ‘Series 7’ chairs by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen surround a ‘Super-Elliptical’ table by Piet Hein, Bruno Mathsson and Arne Jacobsen, also for Fritz Hansen. The ‘PH5’ pendant lamp is by Poul Henningsen for Louis Poulsen, and the painting is by American artist Peter Halley Kitchen Bespoke cabinets by Konzept-los are paired with laminate worktops and a splashback by Resopal Dressing room An ‘LC1’ armchair by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand for Cassina sits under a painting by Rikizo Fukao Stockist details on p188 BARBARA AND MARTIN ALREADY COLLECTED MID-CENTURY FURNITURE AND, SINCE MOVING IN, HAVE ACQUIRED MORE PIECES THAT SIT HAPPILY IN THIS ENVIRONMENT

Above In a recessed seating area, a pair of ‘Swan’ chairs and a low table, all by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, sit in front of a three-dimensional artwork by American artist and minimalist Frank Stella Opposite Abstract blocks of colour feature heavily in this Bauhaus home – the deep red of the staircase and banister contrasts with the pale apricot and dusky blue of the walls Stockist details on p188 ’WE SEE OURSELVES AS CUSTODIANS OF THE HOUSE, AND LOVE LIVING WITH THE BAUHAUS COLOUR PALETTE – IT’S SOPHISTICATED, BUT FULL OF JOY’

Bathroom This space has been fully renovated, but its original layout and materials have been retained Guest bedroom A painting by Hubert Berke brings the muted colour scheme of this room together. The ‘Safari’ chair is by Wilhelm Kienzle for Wohnbedarf Main bedroom Bauhaus alumnus Gertrud Arndt designed this checked carpet. The bed and side tables were custom made, and the ‘Panthella’ lamp is by Verner Panton for Louis Poulsen Stockist details on p188