Architecture of Utility and Universal Aesthetics
Bauhaus is an architectural movement that stands out in its characteristics, making art and functionality go hand in hand, elegantly. Standing out, with its sleek yet bold structural elements, this form of design, intended to fuse the two very important elements of design, the soul of art into the practical design of a building.
The Bauhaus movement emerged as a response to the lack of social relevance of modernity. It was inspired by the efficiency of mass production that was brought about by industrialization, to attain maximum functionality. But an important aspect of the design is aesthetics, and visual impact is to be inherent to make the design a success.
The origin of this style was unconventional, but its influence is seen over art and architecture alike. This movement largely inspired the modernist movement with its play of simple forms and abstract shapes to achieve the harmonious design. Its unique aesthetic dominated the 20th-century landscape, but its essence has been extracted into modern, contemporary designs we see today.
How has Bauhaus manifested in the 21st century?
Bauhaus in the present
The rational approach of the Bauhaus movement led to it being considered one of the more cost-efficient yet aesthetic styles of architecture. One of its main characteristics is that it works with functionality as a priority. This mixture of combining economy and the desired outcome made it a fair option when compared to other styles of architecture where preferences were made to certain facets alone.
Deemed as a democratic move against expensive forms of architecture, the design aspects were to serve people of all classes equally, giving them the option to customize the buildings to their needs.
Today, some elements of Bauhaus’s principles have been used in creating residences and office buildings, but while only some elements are borrowed, the values in themselves are missed. The spirit of Bauhaus has been alive for more than 20 years now, but its materialization has been lost.
How can the movement be rethought to make it more relevant to present times?
Brief of the Competition
How can Bauhaus make our lives relevant and artsy while being feasibly functional? How can we as designers communicate the essence of this movement? Can this style be used to design small-scale public entities? How will it be helpful in creating successful public spaces? While the principles of the movement are universal, how can the design be made context relevant?
Bus stops are usually engineering solutions that seldom invest themselves in reinventing their design. How can Bauhaus help us change that?
Brief: The design challenge looks at manifesting Bauhaus design principles on a bus stop.
The goal is to design a bus stop that stands as an example of how Bauhaus can weigh in, in changing the public space design game. It should create a balance between its design goals and functional aspects, in a way that resonates with the movement’s ideas. The final outcome should stand as a memoir of the movement and its influences on today’s time.
Design Objectives
- Ideation — The theme must be made relevant and simplified for people to understand.
- Balance — A balance between the aesthetic and functionality must be achieved.
- Landmark — The design must be symbolic of the Bauhaus movement and its principles.
- Replicability — The design must be replicable across various locations around the world.
Site
Weimar is a German city rich in cultural heritage and history. The tourists are drawn to the heritage landmarks. It is a small town with a 50,000 population, but the focal point of many imminent German figures and pioneers.
The city was ground zero for the Bauhaus movement and provides the location a rightful memoir. While it originates here, the movement spread throughout the country.
The site is located in the heart of the city. It can be accessed from the Belvedere Allee road. It is on the opposite side of the Bauhaus school, frequented by students and the residents around, giving the bus stop, rightful attention.
- Site Area — 141 sqm
- Height restrictions- 6m
- Coordinates — 50°58'28.8"N 11°19'48.8"E
- Participants may consider the site as empty or without trees.
Find all the competition brief, terms, and other registration guidelines on this
page: Baus-Stop | Urban Design Competition on UNI | About
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Originally published at https://uni.xyz.
