Bauhaus Neue

Bauhaus movement 

There are moments in history when a confluence of ideas, people, and broader cultural and technological forces creates a spark. Sometimes the spark amounts to nothing more than a flicker. But if conditions are right, it can erupt into a dazzling, brilliant light that, while burning for only a brief moment, changes the world around it. 

The Bauhaus was one of these – a place that despite the economic turmoil and cultural conservatism of the world around it, offered a truly radical, international and optimistic vision of the future. The origins of the Bauhaus lie in the late 19th century, in anxieties about the soullessness of modern manufacturing, and fears about art's loss of social relevance. The Bauhaus aimed to reunite fine art and functional design (applied arts), creating practical objects with the soul of design. The effect was eventually designed good design was made accessible to people at an effective price. 

100 years later in a world where rampant shifts in technology and automation, how can we change the dated outlook to design education fundamentally?

 100 years

Bauhaus and its influence spread after the school was closed down by political pressure due to its bold open and liberal thinking. Its graduates spread around the world excelling in various fields of design and architecture. 

There are plenty of documentaries, stories and videos sharing the expanse of Bauhaus ideology, you can begin your study with this video. As we see the last 100 years, times have changed and the means to design along with their applications have transformed radically as well. The concept of an interdisciplinary art school might seem commonplace to us now, but 100 years ago, the idea was revolutionary. 

Bauhaus school existed for barely 14 years, yet what it did was highly exceptional in the standards of today. What did Bauhaus School do so right that schools of today are struggling to do? In a world where design is again becoming an aesthetic instead of core thought - how can design education rethink the relevance of design in future?

"The Bauhaus strives to bring together all creative effort into one whole, to reunify all the disciplines of practical art - sculpture, painting, handicrafts, and crafts - as inseparable components of a new architecture"

Challenge

Most schools today may be replicating the techniques of Bauhaus as is. But the times have changed and the techniques used by Bauhaus might not be fit for the current times. However, the philosophies of Bauhaus transcend barriers of time as even Sir Norman Foster affirms the “Ideologies of Bauhaus are more relevant today than ever.” Design Challenge: How can we reinterpret the philosophies of Bauhaus to create a new design school that fosters a futuristic, bold and radical learning environment in the context of today and tomorrow? 

The design challenge can begin with design disciplines that exist today like Architecture, Visual Communication Design, Graphic Design, Textile design or Conceive new disciplines entirely springing from fundamental learning programmes. The competition will not focus on creating curriculums but innovation in spaces that nurture them. Choose not more than 3 courses for your new design school. 

Theme

The themes can be a point of beginning to conceive this design. Participants can interpret these themes in their own contexts before initiating their design process.

Site area + Limits

Participants can choose a site for this institution anywhere around the world. The omnipresence of Bauhaus is made possible because of the internet age as we are seamlessly connected to the entire world which will lead to more and more universal learning in the coming future. 

• Max Site Area: 10000sqm.
• Max Ground Coverage Area:
• 5000sqm. FAR: 1.5
• Following of local development guidelines is optional