The New European Bauhaus: Design and Sustainability
WHAT DOES "BAUHAUS" MEAN?
The Bauhaus ("House of Construction") was a design school founded in Germany in 1919. According to its founder, Walter Gropius, the aim of this institution was to eliminate the old social division between artists and craftsmen. And giving value to handwork, integrating the know-how of many disciplines (the well known "multidisciplinarity").
During three different periods, which were either more idealistic or rational, the school looked the union between function and aesthetics. Architecture, Product Design, Handcrafting and Art were just some of the study subjects.
The Bauhaus was the base for what we understand today as studies in Industrial and Graphic Design. Besides, it established the academical fundamentals of modern architecture.
Its importance laid in the importance of reforming the artistic teachings to generate a transformation of the bourgeois society of the time, in accordance to the socialist thoughts of his founder. The Bauhaus had an important component of social and unifying thinking.
Finally, in spite of being closed by the Nazi regime in 1933, other professionals tried to reply the teachings of this school both in the USA (the New Bauhaus) as in Germany itself. (Hochschule für Gestaltung_HfG).
AND WHAT IS THE "NEW EUROPEAN BAUHAUS"?
In September 2020 Ursula von der Leyen has announced that Europe will finance the creation of a "new European Bauhaus". This project seeks, among other things, to explore "how to live better together after the pandemic", and fostering circular and sustainable economy. The main aim is to join sustainability, aesthetics and inclusion.
(Front page of the presentation "Putting the new Bauhaus to work for the recovery", Seville, December 2020. Source: https://heweuropeanbauhaussevilla.eu/)
And of course, it will incorporate designers, artists, scientifics, architects, students, engineers, and citizens.
The project aspires, in general terms, to promote affordable solutions which can contribute to social cohesion, to look for answers to problems like housing, or generating action lines in fields like "sustainable design".
This means that this great project has a social basis to solve the great challenge of Europe in the 21st century.
(Image of the presentation "Putting the new Bauhaus to work for the recovery", celebrated in Seville in December 2020. Source: https://neweuropeanbauhaussevilla.eu/)
The project has five stages:
- Design. Open to people and organisations, to define the concept of the New European Bauhaus. This process will define the "rules of the game", and will set concrete actions.
- Trial projects. Which will take place in 5 European cities.
- Dissemination. The ideas and concepts will be spread into a wider audience.
WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT TO US?
Smart Room Barcelona is a team of people who are passionate for design. Our vocation takes us to modify the environment to generate solutions, always thinking in a functional and pleasant final result.
But today more than ever, we also care about making these results sustainable, respectful with the environment and with people. And we are conscious about how our actions (and those of thousands of companies) can influence positively in the environment if we have clear common objectives: better social coexistence, environmental respect, feeling good about what one does every day, being satisfied about well-done work, working with projects that satisfy our teams, taking out the best of each of us.
If you feel identified with this philosophy and you are looking for a design team to build a space, to renovate your home or to plan your event, get in touch with Smart Room Barcelona: we want to listen to you.
More info:
https://www.lavanguardia.com/cultura/20210119/6184890/nueva-bauhaus-verde.html
Date: 2023-09-14
