The Bauhaus was both a forward-looking project and a child of its time. Against the background of industrialization and modernization, it defined an anthropocentric philosophy of design which was permeated by a positivist belief in progress, a better future, the emancipatory potential of science and technology, and improvement through renewal. Given the obvious contradictions between ideal, practice, and impact, “projekt bauhaus” critically examines the ideas of the Bauhaus by using its methods: In a preliminary course (2017) and a workshop (2019), it exposes the internal contradictions of the Western idea of progress and discusses alternative approaches.

The Bauhaus sought a synthesis of knowledge in which the various forms of knowledge – technical, scientific, emotional, creative – would be interconnected. This concept of knowledge was combined with a new pedagogy to emancipate the people, release their potential, and ultimately lead to the creation of a “new man.” Which spaces encourage creativity and innovation? Which sites of knowledge does society need today? Do advanced laboratories of computer, internet, and media companies represent the Bauhaus of the twenty-first century?

Speakers include Morehshin Allahyari, Shaina Anand, Armen Avanessian, Brave New Alps, Jesko Fezer, Reinier de Graaf, Orit Halpern, Denisa Kera, Joachim Krausse, Thomas Krüger, Claudia Mareis, Heike Catherina Mertens, Anh-Linh Ngo, Philipp Oswalt, Jussi Parikka, Joanne Pouzenc, Henrike Rabe, Bernd Scherer, Paloma Strelitz, Fred Turner, and Georg Vrachliotis.