Kathleen James-Chakraborty: The Bauhaus, women and modern architecture

In the second episode of A is for Architecture, I speak with Professor Kathleen James-Chakraborty about her research and writing on twentieth century modernist architecture and design, looking at the nature and impact of the Bauhaus. Fronted by totemic modernists, the Bauhaus only lasted 24 years and yet its influence on everyday culture, even now, has been enormous. Unpacking that, Kathleen and I discuss the ways the Bauhaus was intentionally curated, towards an image of progressive liberalism which perhaps it didn't entirely deserve, particularly in its relationship to the women who were essential to its success and influence.

Kathleen's academic profile can be seen here: https://people.ucd.ie/kathleen.jameschakraborty. Her book Bauhaus Culture: From Weimar to the Cold War can be gotten here: https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/bauhaus-culture. Kathleen was recently awarded a European Research Council grant on a project entitled Expanding Agency: Women, Race and the Global Dissemination of Modern Architecture, which you can read about here: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101019419

www.aisforarchitecture.org

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Music credits: Bruno Gillick.