The New European Bauhaus

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269256

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Submitted

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NEW EUROPEAN BAUHAUS RISING STARS : concepts or ideas submitted by young talents (aged 30 or less)

Project title

The New European Bauhaus

Full concept/idea title

Description

An existing campus in Dornbirn, Austria is transformed from a monotonous asphalt area, into a diverse program for all user groups. Existing users, which is mostly students, are invited to contribute in creating new public areas from upcycled materials. An industrial building on the campus will be repurposed as the New European Bauhaus. Focusing on creative spaces, learning by doing, and learning with play for students and children, we are proposing one of the solutions for a sustainable future.

Where is your concept/idea being developed or intended to be implemented in the EU?

Please provide a summary of your concept/ idea

The concept, created by three Architecture students, sets out to literally create the New European Bauhaus. By repurposing an existing industrial building in Dornbirn, Austria, we believe the European (present and future) culture can best be represented. Under the teachings of Hon. Prof. UNESCO Anna Heringer and Dr. Clarissa Rhomberg, we are developing a school out of the ordinary. The (approximately) 300 students will take part in creating the learning environment from the craft hall, while dealing with the new vision for construction: natural materials. The atmosphere will Combine Earthen architecture with the wooden craftsmanship represented in the region of Vorarlberg. The atelier is intertwined with and exhibition space, where the connection between art and science that architects juggle is elevated. The building also integrates local sustainable businesses and researchers to create a line of communication and development. The new European Bauhaus curriculum will also be integrated in a youth and children's program, where part of the building is a learning landscape focused on learning by playing. These user groups and their needs are reflected in the surrounding landscape, thereby creating natural spaces for dialogue.

Please give information about the key objectives of your concept/idea in terms of sustainability and how these would be met

First of all the concept focuses on sustainable materials. We have been taught from both Hon. Prof. UNESCO Anna Heringer and Hon. Prof. Mag. Art. Martin Rauch, whom are two of the leading researchers and developers of earthen architecture, about the qualities of earth. Earth utilizes the cradle to cradle cycle for its full potential. The same could be said for pure wood. Luckily, the Vorarlberg region is rich in wooden craftmanship. Combining these materials with the existing structure enables the students, researchers, and children to imagine a sustainable future, and thereby be part of the change. The materials will be gathered from the local environment and at its end, given back. The surrounding campus will be transformed from mainly car parking and infrastructure, to an urban sustainable landscape. The people will be connected to the surrounding nature by a connection to the riverfront and local forest and mountains. In between these connections are micro 

Please give information about the key objectives of your concept/idea in terms of aesthetics and quality of experience beyond functionality and how these would be met

The research on Biophilia is abundant. Our closeness to nature is genetically present. The architectural aesthetic focuses on a warm connection to the cold existence. The existing bricks, concrete and steel are connected to smooth brown-tones of earth and wood, where wood creates an airy atmosphere the earth keeps us grounded. The existing green steel facade is supplemented with rammed earth walls as a representation of the interior. 

Please give information about the key objectives of your concept/idea in terms of inclusion and how these would be been met

The interior is created from natural materials that can be built by anyone. The users of the school will also participate in creating the interior from clay and wood. Not only is the interior usage diverse in its program, the exterior landscape sets out to include all user groups. By removing cars and facilitate for pedestrians and cyclists, the area is safer. Therefore, elderly and children will be more attracted to the area. A ramp leading down to a river that is currently un-reachable creates a closeness for all inhabitants to the nature. The nature is also integrated in a green axis running through the campus, creating micro-spaces for students and ending up in a garden for the local student initiative queerbeet to grow their vegetables, and harvest the cultural pear trees. The fruit gathered can be sold on the open plaza that is the centre of the campus, where students meet businesses and sustainable companies.

Please explain the innovative character of your concept/ idea

The combination of a sustainable school for art, architecture and engineering with researchers focused on sustainability and the future of humanity, in a natural environment, will serve the same purpose as the New European Bauhaus initiative in a longer span of time. This will hopefully create unimaginable things, theories, materials and much more that will lead Europe into the next era.

Please detail the plans you have for the further development, promotion and/or implementation of your concept/idea, with a particular attention to the initiatives to be taken before May 2022

The Dornbirn Plus initiative are already moving into the offices of the building in question this month. They are a local initiative focusing on establishing the european culture capitol in Dornbirn, and are great representatives to lead this vision. The concept we have developed is a design studio concept and will be finished 21.06.2021. The detailing of the interior is therefore not developed and will be the next step. If we win the competition it will launch a new path for all three of us, and we can, together with Dornbirn Plus, develop the New European Bauhaus further.

By ticking this box, you declare that all the information provided in this form is factually correct, that the proposed concept/idea has not been proposed for the New European Bauhaus Rising Stars Awards more than once in the same category.