Walter Gropius, an architect, designer, author, and founder of the famous Bauhaus school in Germany, died on July 5, 1969, at the age of 86. He was born in Berlin in 1883. As an architect, Gropius made a huge impact with his concept of “total architecture”—dubbed “Gropius Modern”—which featured clean lines and mass-produced building details. He also focused on sustainability and energy efficiency in his design. Gropius was the founder and first director of the Staatliches Bauhaus, a renowned German school for modern design. With its combination of craftsmanship and fine art, Bauhaus was influential in the development of modernist design worldwide. Gropius taught at Bauhaus for a period of nearly ten years before departing for Britain in 1934, after the Nazis closed the school. The following year, in 1935, he and his family moved to the United States, where he worked until his death. Gropius is remembered for his bold modernist designs and his part in the development of the modernist style. He is survived by two daughters, Manon and Ati Gropius, and by his sons Martin and Tom.