Joint media release from the Thüringer Staatskanzlei (Thuringian State Chancellery), Thüringen Ministry of »Wirtschaft, Landwirtschaft und Ländlichen Raum«, and the »Thüringer Innovationszentrum für die Zukunft des Bauens« (ThIZ-BAU)) on 20 April 2026: New building for the ThIZ-BAU in Weimar boosts innovation, generates value and technology transfer in the construction industry – and receives over 10.6 million euros in funding

The modernisation of key infrastructure – from electricity and heating to public transportation – requires investments that amount to billions of euros in the coming years. Municipal utility companies are particularly affected by these challenges. Within this context, the Professorship of Infrastructure Economics and Management at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, together with the »Thüringer Aufbaubank« and the »Landesgruppe Thüringen des Verbandes kommunaler Unternehmen«, is organising the »Infrastruktur- und Daseinsvorsorge-Politik in Thüringen« Conference in Erfurt on 28 April 2026 from 10 am to 5 pm. Academics and professionals will be participating in the conference in talks and panel discussions. Finance Minister Katja Wolf will be joining the event as keynote speaker.

On 20 April, a new chapter at Weimar's Construction Research Centre will begin: A modern technical centre for sustainable construction will be built on a 4,300 square metre site in the Tröbsdorf area. The »Innovationszentrum-Bau« is being developed by the »IAB – Institut für Angewandte Bauforschung Weimar gGmbH«. The centre will intensify collaboration between the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar and the Materials Research and Testing Laboratory (MFPA) Weimar. The goal is to pool existing expertise and increase the transfer of research findings into industrial practice. High profile guests, including Elisabeth Kaiser, Ostbeauftragte for the Federal Government, Thuringian Minister President Mario Voigt, and Minister of Economic Affairs Colette Boos-John, are expected to attend the ground-breaking ceremony.

The dress on the screen has several sizes to choose from and can be added to the basket with a click – but there is a moment of hesitation: Will it actually fit? Will I feel good in it? Will it look the same as it does in the picture? Online fashion platforms affect women’s self-image more strongly than previously thought. A recent study at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar has shown that digital shopping experiences have a profound impact on body perception with consequences that affect users, the economy, and the environment. The research will be presented and awarded at the prestigious CHI Conference in Barcelona from 13 to 17 April 2026.

The ivory tower, once a symbol of academic thought and research, is a thing of the past. For years, progressive universities have opened their doors to a broader public through events such as open houses and science nights. The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar also sees itself as more than just an educational and research institution and is an active participant in society. The University influences public discourse and takes responsibility that extends beyond campus. Visibility and connections to other spheres are essential to this: Research and teaching should not occur in isolation but instead should engage in productive dialogue with society.

On 31 March, the six-year project period of the DFG-funded Media Anthropology research training group (GRAMA) at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar’s Faculty of Media came to an end. Last Friday, members of the research training group gathered to celebrate an emotional farewell together with representatives from the University at the site of the former tram depot (Lichthaus Kino).

Die Transformation von Mobilität und Energieversorgung gehört zu den zentralen Herausforderungen der Gegenwart. Kommunale Unternehmen wie die Stadtwirtschaft Weimar GmbH übernehmen hierbei eine Vorreiterrolle, indem sie innovative Technologien mit wissenschaftlicher Begleitung, unter anderem durch die Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, unter realen Bedingungeneinsetzen. Erlebbar wird die enge Verbindung von Wissenschaft, Lehre und kommunaler Praxis am Beispiel des Wasserstoffbusses »Walter Gropius«, welcher ab 8. April 2026 mit neuer Gestaltung durch Weimar fährt.

The »Tilia Awards« were presented for the first time on 20 March 2026 for scientific and practice-based projects that take new approaches to urban spaces. Out of over 150 entries, 24 winners were selected, including the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar and the IAB-Institut für angewandte Bauforschung Weimar for their work in the »Akademische Arbeiten und Forschung« (academic work and research) category. The interdisciplinary »GrayToGreen« research project was honoured for its integration of vertical greening and grey water treatment.

Democratic societies depend on reliable information. But the rapid spread of misinformation through digital platforms is overwhelming for both users and current verification systems. Individuals who want to combat disinformation effectively need tools that can detect increasingly sophisticated technical forgeries and allow users to critically evaluate content. The ClaimGuard and PADSE research projects at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar’s Faculty of Media are involved in the in the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space’s current funding programme and developing new solutions for dealing with digital misinformation.

From 19 to 22 March 2026, the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar could be found at their stand in Hall 5 of the Leipzig Book Fair. The University brought their experimental exhibition concept exploring typography, space, structure, materials, light, and scenography to life on a 60 square metre space. The »RESONANCE.PATTERN« exhibition stand was created as part of an interdisciplinary Bauhaus.Module led by Prof. Michael Herrmann and Torsten Müller from the Professorship of Construction Design and Structural Design.

Wie lässt sich der Zustand von Wäldern künftig präziser erfassen, Schäden frühzeitig erkennen und Aufforstung langfristig dokumentieren? Mit dieser Frage beschäftigen sich internationale Studierende vom 16. bis 20. März 2026 in einer Innovation & Startup Challenge an der Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. Die Veranstaltung ist Teil der BAUHAUS4EU Spring School und bringt rund 20 bis 25 Teilnehmende aus den europäischen Partneruniversitäten der Allianz für fünf Tage nach Weimar.

Wood, textiles, and light make up the stand while typography provides the narrative structure. At the end is a shared goal: Representing the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar at the 2026 Leipzig Book Fair. This is the mission that 15 students started their 2025/2026 winter semester with. Under the academic direction of Prof. Michael Herrmann and Torsten Müller from the Professorship of Construction Design and Structural Design, five experimental designs were conceived as part of the interdisciplinary Bauhaus.Module »typotopie«. The concept by students Petter Bolstad, Nina Siegle, and Ngoc Truc Phuong Nguyen was selected for the Fair.

How is housing evolving in times of multiple crises? How do social change and the material design of architecture, neighbourhoods, and infrastructures influence one another? These questions will be addressed on 7 and 8 May 2026 at the »Weiter wohnen wie gewohnt? Gesellschaftliche Transformation und räumliche Materialisierung des Wohnens« conference at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar.

As part of the research project IN TUNE: Performing Material Attunement for Post-Authorial (Architectural) Design Practices, two public round tables will take place on Monday, February 16, and Tuesday, February 17, 2026, from 6.30 – 8 p.m. each evening. International designers and architects will discuss performative and material-based approaches in architecture and design, both on site and online.

How did modernist design ideal spread beyond Europe? And what did they come to mean in South Asian media cultures? This question forms the foundation of the »From Process to Aesthetic: Recontextualizing Modernism in South Asia through Cinema, Print, and Object-Oriented Ontology« (2025–26) research project. Funded by the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar’s research workshop initiative, the project focusses on architecture, media, and material aesthetics and consistently examines modernism from a postcolonial perspective.

Vom Freitag, 27. bis Sonntag, 29. März 2026 findet das 8. Internationale Symposium zur Baukulturellen Bildung im Eiermannbau in Apolda statt. Das bundesweite Forum bietet unter dem Motto »Textil vermittelt« Raum für Austausch und Diskussion über die Bedeutung der baukulturellen Bildung.

Small and mid-sized skilled trades businesses are facing growing challenges; repurposing and renovating existing buildings is becoming increasingly complex, time pressure is mounting, and there is a growing shortage of skilled workers. Digital tools and robotics are promising relief. But how can new technologies be used in a way that they actually help craftspeople in their everyday life? This is the question being asked by the interdisciplinary research team at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar in the »Handwerk der Zukunft« project. The team will be receiving nearly one million euros in funding from the European Social Fund from 2026 to 2028.

With a focus on the theme of »Experiential Turn – Erfahrungsräume für zukunftsfähiges Lernen« (experiential turn – experiential spaces for future-proof learning), the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar is inviting you to this year’s TURN Conference: On 24 and 25 September, everything will be evolving around »Experiential Learning«. This term refers to a sustainable learning process though which knowledge is gained from concrete experiences. These experiences are then reflected upon, theoretically conceptualised, and further developed through repeated experimentation. Experiential learning influences not only the learning process, but also how knowledge is generated and insights are produced. Those interested can submit contributions until 28 February 2026.

How can public cultural programming connect with young people, get them involved, and make them more visible? Students from the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar and the University of Erfurt tackled this question as part of a collaboration with ARD Kultur and the TeleVisionale Film and Media Festival. Their findings were presented during the festival, which was held for the first in Weimar from 1 to 5 December 2025, and expressed clear recommendations for cultural programming.

Snow-covered mountains, a whiteboard in front of an icy blue lake, delicious-looking gingerbread cookies, and a festively decorated Christmas tree: A seemingly normal lecture from the »Virtual Reality and Visualization« professorship was relocated to an extraordinary setting before Christmas. Rather than meeting in the lecture hall, students and instructors gathered together in a specially designed digital winter wonderland to learn, discuss, and experiment together. The »3D Interaction Techniques: Manipulation« event took place entirely over virtual reality.