In the 1920s Germany became the engine of Modernism. The first tubular steel chair was created at the Bauhaus - a 20th-century icon and a turning point in the history of German design. The Bauhaus would go on to achieve global renown, but at the same time Germany has been the breeding ground for many other innovative design ideas as well: from the uncluttered Biedermeier style after 1800 and Michael Thonet’s bentwood chairs of the mid-19th century to the invention of the modern kitchen. From the freewheeling living room "landscapes" of the 1960s to a new designer vanguard currently rethinking our lifestyles.

Contents Milestones·Designers and Manufacturers

Systematization and Freedom Foreword

Design for modern living A history

Milestones A product chronology

New designs Living in the 21st century

Lexicon Designs and Manufacturers

Index,Literature,Credits