Draft for the tearoom on the ground floor of the Cafe Aubette - Sophie Taeuber-Arp

A design for the tearoom of the Café Aubette in Strasbourg by Sophie Taeuber-Arp, this architectural drawing showcases geometric forms and a restrained palette, reflecting the artist's Dadaist sensibilities and commitment to integrating art with everyday life.

This architectural drawing by Sophie Taeuber-Arp depicts a design for the tearoom of the Café Aubette in Strasbourg. Taeuber-Arp, a Swiss artist and designer associated with the Dada movement, collaborated with her husband, Jean Arp, and Theo van Doesburg on the interior design of the Aubette, an entertainment complex that aimed to integrate art and everyday life. The Aubette project, undertaken in the late 1920s, represented a comprehensive approach to interior design, encompassing furniture, murals, and spatial arrangements. The drawing presents a bird's-eye view of the tearoom, rendered in precise geometric forms and a restrained palette of grey, white, and ochre. Rectangular shapes define the floor plan, punctuated by columns and smaller geometric patterns. The design incorporates abstract motifs, reflecting Taeuber-Arp's interest in non-representational art. The composition balances functional considerations with aesthetic principles, demonstrating the artist's commitment to creating a harmonious and modern environment. The Café Aubette, though controversial in its time, is now recognised as a significant example of early modernist design.