This book is a compendium of the essays presented during the 12th International Bauhaus Colloquium 2013.

On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Henry van de Velde's birthday, the contributions of the 12th International Bauhaus Colloquium highlighted the historic meaning of the Gesamtkunstwerk and its significance in more recent discussions. The Death and Life of the Total Work of Art is conceived as a new interdisciplinary approach to a concept that is not only an important aspect of the Bauhaus, but also a key element of modern architecture and architectural theory in general.