5th International Congress Bauhaus.SOLAR 2012

The congress focused on the connection between the traditional and the modern, aesthetics and technology, future architects and solar technology. The organisers modified certain parts of the congress programme and used new formats that facilitated a more intensive interdisciplinary exchange as well as developing a more profound understanding of particular topics, for example in round table discussions and dialogues.

„Energetic Redevelopment of Residential Areas and City Centres“ was the theme of Bauhaus.SOLAR 2012. Andreas Ruby, architecture critic and theorist from Berlin and the moderator of the congress, had a collective discussion with architects, builders, monument conservators, urban planners, manufacturers and attorneys about two exciting and highly contemporary issues: “solar energy in the redevelopment of housing developments” and “photovoltaics in historical city centres.” The focal point was the aesthetic influence of energy-related elements on architecture and urban planning.

The research segment “Bauhaus.SOLAR Research” is also new. The presentations and discussions on the second day of the congress revolved around current research projects that examine the relationships between planning methods and potential energy savings. For example, Wolfgang Lösching of the Graz University of Technology presented “Real Density: Examinations of the relationships between urban density and the energy efficiency of a city”. Bernhard Sommer of the University of Applied Arts Vienna and Ulrich Pont of the Vienna University of Technology presented “Evolutionary algorithms in the development of energy-efficient structures.”  Other speakers in this rubric included Eduard A. Petriu (Graz University of Technology), Ulf Pleines and Sven Schneider (both from Bauhaus-Universität Weimar).

The third Bauhaus.SOLAR AWARD was presented on the first evening of the congress. Students and young architects from seven European countries submitted outstanding architecture- and design projects, among which were works from Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. The prize for up-and-coming talent is endowed with a total of €15,000.

An accompanying exhibit at the Erfurt Convention Centre, which centred on “Solar Construction and Energy Storage”,  rounded out the congress.

You can find an overview of the complete congress programme and event highlights online at www.bauhaus-solar.de. The congress took place at the Erfurt Convention Centre.

The organiser of the 5th International Congress Bauhaus.SOLAR 2012 is the Thuringian solar branch association SolarInput e.V. The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar is the research partner. Other partners are the Thüringer Energie- und Greentech-Agentur (Thuringian Energy and Greentech Agency [ThEGA]) and the Erfurt Convention Centre.