Steiner Architecture

Interior photo of the Goetheanum, circa 1925

Located in Dornach (near Basel), Switzerland, the Goetheanum is the world center for anthroposophy, which is Steiner’s name for his philosophy (anthro – human, sophia – wisdom, “wisdom of the human being”). The Goetheanum, named after Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, includes two performance halls (1500 seats), gallery and lecture spaces, a library, a bookstore, and administrative spaces for the Anthroposophical Society. Trainings and conferences are held here for teachers, farmers, doctors, therapists and other professions.

Anthroposophical ideas have been applied practically in many areas besides architecture, including Waldorf education, special education (Camphill schools), biodynamic agriculture, anthroposophical medicine, ethical banking and the arts.