Schweizerischer Werkbund

Schweizerischer Werkbund, (translated as Swiss Werkbund) is a Swiss association of artists, architects, designers, and industrialists established in 1913, inspired by the mission of the Deutscher Werkbund.^[1]

The Werkbund was founded on 17 May 1913 by different actors of the arts, architecture, advertisement, industry and politics at the Kunstgewerbemuseum in Zurich. This meeting was called by Alfred Altherr.^[2]

The Werkbund hosted meetings, lectures, and exhibitions.^[1] The Werkbund created a film to publicize the very first Swiss housing exhibition held within Belgium. The exhibition was known as WOBA.^[3] They also published a monthly journal titled, Das Werk.^[1]

The instigation of the die Gut Forme campaign after World War II was the responsibility of the Werkbund. The campaign sought to proliferate the aims and ideals of the functionalism movement, and continued from sometime during 1949 to its closure sometime during 1969.^[4]

References

1. Hollis, Richard (2006). Swiss Graphic Design: The Origins and Growth of an International Style. New Haven, Connecticut, USA: Yale University Press. pp. 17–18. ISBN 0300106769.
2. Zumstein, Adeline (2013). Gestaltung Werk Gesellschaft : 100 Jahre Schweizerischer Werkbund SWB. Gnägi, Thomas., Schweizerischer Werkbund. Zürich: Scheidegger & Spiess. p. 63. ISBN 9783858813879. OCLC 862135968.
3. A. Janser, A. Rüegg - Hans Richter: New Living : Architecture, Film, Space Springer Science & Business Media 2001, 125 pages, ISBN 3907078225 [Retrieved 2015-07-15]
4. René Spitz - Hfg Ulm: The View Behind the Foreground : the Political History of the Ulm School of Design, 1953-1968 Edition Axel Menges 2002, 465 pages, ISBN 3932565177 [Retrieved 2015-07-15]