Bauhaus and non-ferrous metals: What we can learn from them today
The role of brass and copper in the Bauhaus
While stainless steel is often regarded today as the epitome of modern functionality, in the early days of the Bauhaus it was non-ferrous metals such as brass and copper that played an important role. The metal workshop produced lamps, fittings, and everyday objects that were not only functional but also precisely designed in terms of material aesthetics.
Designers such as Marianne Brandt experimented with metal surfaces, proportions, and manufacturing techniques. Copper and brass were by no means nostalgic materials, but rather an expression of modernity. They could be industrially processed, were durable, and developed their own patina over time—a visible trace of use.
A brass door handle or copper door fitting did not stand for opulence at the time, but for material awareness. The finish was allowed to age, change, and react to touch. This was precisely where the aesthetic quality lay: the material remained legible.
Design errors with brass and Copper
Precisely because non-ferrous metals are currently being used more frequently, typical mistakes are being made. One of these is over-staging. When lights, fittings, furniture fittings, and door handles are all made of shiny brass, the material loses its effect. Instead of creating accents, it creates weariness.
Another mistake is a break in style. A heavily ornamented brass handle in a strictly Minimalist architectural setting appears inconsistent. Similarly, a high-gloss copper fitting can be distracting in a minimalist, matt environment.
Last but not least, finish plays a decisive role. High-quality brass or copper fittings are characterized by precise workmanship and durable finishes. Inferior coatings that age artificially or tarnish quickly counteract the demand for material authenticity.
Why Stainless steel later dominated
In the 1980s and 1990s, aesthetic sensibilities shifted significantly. Stainless steel became the Standard in commercial and residential construction. Its cool, neutral appearance suited the increasing industrialization and architecture that emphasized technology and rationality.
Stainless steel was easy to care for, robust, standardized, and suitable for serial production. Door handles, stainless steel, were considered timeless and functional—a logical further development of the functional concept. At the same time, this development was accompanied by a certain distance. Metal was perceived less as a living material and more as an industrial element.
The pendulum swung in the direction of coolness. Warmth, patina, and aging processes faded into the background.
With respect and license
The ULMER GRIFF, reissued by GRIFFWERK, features the characteristic smooth transition from circle to ellipse. This principle is based on mathematics, as Max Bill also advocated in his 1946 work "The Mathematical Way of Thinking in the Art of Our Time."
The ULMER GRIFF BY GRIFFWERK is the only licensed reissue worldwide and is therefore entitled to bear Max Bill's signature.
ULMER GRIFFS by GRIFFWERK
The return of warm finishes
For many years, cool materials and minimalist color schemes dominated modern interior design. Today, there has been a noticeable change: living spaces are once again being designed with a more sensual approach. Rooms should not only be functional, but also convey a certain atmosphere – through materials, colors, and finishes that can be not only seen, but also felt.
This development ties in surprisingly well with an idea that already played a central role in the Bauhaus: materials should be honest and show their own quality. Design is not created solely through Form, but also through the conscious experience of material and Finish.
In this context, warm, matt finishes are becoming increasingly important. Instead of highly reflective metal looks, the focus today is on finely tuned colors and pleasant textures. Nuances such as Cashmere grey or Velvet grey bring a calm warmth to modern interiors and at the same time appear timeless and architecturally clear.
This idea is particularly noticeable in components that are touched every day. A door handle is one of the few elements in a room that is not only looked at, but also held in the hand constantly. A velvety soft finish such as soft2touch significantly changes this experience: it feels less cool than classic metal surfaces, reflects light more gently, and conveys a surprisingly pleasant feel when touched.
This creates a materiality that is understated yet full of character – entirely in keeping with the Bauhaus idea, in which form, function, and material quality come together to form a clear unity.
How warm Metal tones are used in a contemporary way today
The Bauhaus philosophy can also be found in the use of materials: design gains from reduction. Impact is created not by overload, but by precisely placed details.
In modern interiors, this means using finishes deliberately and giving them space. Matt colors such as Cashmere grey or Velvet grey can set subtle but effective accents. They bring warmth to Minimalist room concepts without disturbing their clarity.
Such finishes are particularly harmonious when combined with natural materials. Wood, stone, or textile structures create a calm, cozy atmosphere that is complemented by finely coordinated Fittings. With their silky-matte appearance, these finishes integrate naturally into the overall look of a room.
This is precisely where their design strength lies: the door handle does not come to the fore as a decorative object, but supports the architecture – precisely, functionally, and unobtrusively.
This approach corresponds exactly to what the Bauhaus understood as timeless quality: design in which every detail fulfills a clear function and at the same time allows the materiality of the product to be experienced. A door handle thus becomes a small but noticeable expression of good design in everyday life.
Material is attitude, not trend
What we can learn from Bauhaus is none of the style formulas, but an attitude. Materials are not decoration. They convey meaning. They shape atmosphere, feel, and perception.
Whether stainless steel, brass, or copper—it is not the material itself that is decisive, but how it is used. A Bauhaus door handle was never just a handle, but an expression of a conviction: design arises from function, material, and clarity.
The current return of warm metals is contemporary when it embraces this attitude. Not as a fashionable gesture, but as a conscious decision in favor of material aesthetics.
Because ultimately,
Material is not a trend.
Material is an attitude.