The Red Cube House, a design presented by Farkas Molnár at the 1923 Bauhaus exhibition, remains one of the most identifiable contributions to early twentieth-century architectural theory. As a central figure in the movement's first generation, he bridged the gap between painting, graphic design, and structural planning during a volatile period of European development.
Formative Education
Born in Pécs in 1897, Molnár completed his early education at the Gymnasium of Cistercian Order of Louis the Great. He moved to the Hungarian University of Fine Arts between 1915 and 1916. His technical training continued at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics from 1917 until 1919, though his enrollment there was interrupted by expulsion due to his leftist political views.
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In 1921, Molnár joined Bauhaus University in Weimar, where he refined his skills under Johannes Itten and Walter Gropius. By 1924, he was studying alongside Georg Muche and Marcel Breuer, focusing on the design of terraced housing exteriors and interiors. Beyond architecture, he engaged in theatrical production, contributing to the Green Donkey Theater stage workshop and conceptualizing the U-Theatre, a motorized stage system featuring horizontal gliding mechanisms.
Return to Hungary and Professional Practice
Returning to Hungary in 1925, he completed his studies at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics under the guidance of Dezső Hültl and Iván Kotsis. He established himself as a versatile practitioner, participating in KUT exhibitions and founding the Hungarian Workshop Association. His influence expanded significantly after Walter Gropius invited him to the 1929 CIAM Congress in Frankfurt. Following this, he collaborated with József Fischer and Marcello Breuer to establish the Hungarian branch of CIAM.
Legacy and Institutional Presence
Molnár contributed to literature on the movement, co-authoring Die Bühne im Bauhaus with Oskar Schlemmer and László Moholy-Nagy in 1925. His graphic designs and architectural plans have been archived by major institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art and the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. He died in 1945 at the age of 48 and is buried at the Farkasréti Cemetery in Budapest.
Fast facts
- Born: 1897, Pécs, Hungary
- Died: 1945, Budapest, Hungary
- Occupations: Architect, painter, graphic designer, graphic artist
- Key association: Bauhaus movement
- Notable work: Red Cube House
- Burial site: Farkasréti Cemetery
- Co-authored: Die Bühne im Bauhaus
Questions readers ask
Where did Farkas Molnár study?
He attended the Gymnasium of Cistercian Order of Louis the Great, the Hungarian University of Fine Arts, the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, and the Bauhaus.
What was the U-Theatre?
The U-Theatre was a design by Molnár for a motorized stage capable of gliding horizontally.
Achievements
- Trained at Gymnasium of Cistercian Order of Louis the Great and Hungarian University of Fine Arts
