Niels Cremer and Tom Kemter received an honourable mention at the Rimowa Design Prize ceremony on Tuesday, 13 May 2025. Their »Standalone« redesign of the traditional crutch won over the jury. The Produktdesign (Product Design) students from the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar received a total of 10,000 euros in prize money for their design.

On Wednesday, 7 May 2025, the Senate confirmed the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar’s new Vice Presidents. Prof. Dr. Guido Morgenthal will hold the office of Vice President for Projects and Research for the next three years. During their session, Senate members voted strongly in favour of President Prof. Peter Benz’s proposal. Prof. Dr. Timon Rabczuk, the previous Vice President, resigned from the position due to personal reasons. During the session, the Senate bid farewell to Prof. Rabczuk and President Prof. Peter Benz thanked him for his commitment over the past two years. With the appointment of Prof. Morgenthal, the Presidential Board is again complete.

Wie wurde Städtebau im Nationalsozialismus zum Instrument von Macht, Ausgrenzung und Krieg? Welche Rolle spielte er im Vergleich zu anderen autoritären Regimen in Europa zwischen 1933 und 1945? Antworten auf diese Fragen gibt eine neue, umfangreiche Publikation, die am 16. Mai, 18 Uhr, im Bauhaus-Museum Weimar der Öffentlichkeit vorgestellt wird.

Whether it’s a chatbot, language assistant, or automatic text generation – artificial intelligence is being used in many areas. But how can we prove whether a text was written by a human or generated through a computer programme? Are invisible watermarks the solution to identifying authorship? The new »Lantmark« research project, which began at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar in early April 2025 and is being funded through the BMBF with nearly 1 million euros, is hoping to answer these questions.

Wie kann der Erfurter Anger als zentrale Lebensader der Innenstadt neu gedacht werden? Mit dieser spannenden Leitfrage startet am 24. April 2025 das Semesterprojekt »Die neue Mitte Erfurt – der Erfurter Anger« der Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. In Kooperation mit dem Dezernat Kultur und Stadtentwicklung der Stadt Erfurt widmen sich Studierende der Urbanistik in den kommenden Monaten den aktuellen Herausforderungen und Zukunftsperspektiven dieses bedeutenden Stadtraums.

Ursula Damm, professor and media artist in the Faculty of Art and Design, has been awarded first prize in the »Kunst am Bau« competition for her design »Eine biologische Uhr« (a biological clock). The competition coincided with the construction of the new »Kooperationsgebäudes Biodiversität« on campus at the Freie Universität Berlin. The jury recommended that Damm’s idea be implemented.

On Thursday, 3 April 2025, the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar presented its six-semester annual theme programme to kick off the summer semester. The current annual theme, »Beyond Now ⸺ Environment«, focussed on projects and partners that explore the interaction between living beings and their material and immaterial environments through research, teaching, science, and art.

Vom Mauerwerk aus Mikrowellenstroh und Schneckenschleim bis hin zum selbstheilenden, intelligenten Beton – auf der diesjährigen Industriemesse in Hannover präsentierte sich die Bauhaus-Universität Weimar mit vier Weltneuheiten aus den Fakultäten Architektur und Urbanistik sowie Bau- und Umweltingenieurwissenschaften. Ausgestellt waren die Exponate vom 31. März bis 4. April 2025 am Gemeinschaftsstand »Forschung für die Zukunft«, welcher wegweisende Forschungsprojekte aus den Bundesländern Thüringen und Sachsen-Anhalt bündelt.

From masonry made out of »Mikrowellenstroh« (microwave straw) and snail slime, to self-healing intelligent concrete – the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar was represented at this year's industrial trade fair in Hanover with four world premières from the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism and the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The exhibits were on display from 31 March to 4 April 2025 at the joint »Forschung für die Zukunft« stand, which brings together pioneering research projects from the states of Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt.

From masonry made out of »Mikrowellenstroh« (microwave straw) and snail slime, to self-healing intelligent concrete – the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar will be represented at this year's industrial trade fair in Hanover with four world premières from the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism and the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The exhibits will be on display from 31 March to 4 April 2025 at the joint »Forschung für die Zukunft« stand, which brings together pioneering research projects from the states of Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt.

Mobility is the driving force behind social and economic progress in Thuringia: This is the focus of the Thuringian Mobilitätskonferenz, which will take place on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 March 2025 at the COMCENTER Brühl (Erfurt). The event is jointly organised by the »Landesentwicklungsgesellschaft (LEG)« and the Thüringer Ministerium für Infrastruktur und Landwirtschaft (TMIL). The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar is making a major scientific contribution with its »MOVEwell – Mobilitätsverbund werthaltige ländliche Lebensräume« project.

3D printing opens up completely new possibilities for architecture and construction. Nearly 100 scientists from the fields of civil engineering, architecture, and materials science will share their expertise on the extent to which 3D printing can be used to improve construction during a symposium held at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar on 31 March and 2 April 2025.

Rising temperatures and poor air quality make the effects of climate change noticeable in urban living spaces. Façade greening could revitalise urban spaces while also improving microclimates. But how can modern urban greenery be watered in a resource-friendly way? Using grey water is one approach being researched in Weimar. In order to scientifically test the long-term effects, the Thüringer Aufbaubank is granting the joint »Reallabor GrayToGreen« project, led by the Bauhaus-Universität, Weimar, nearly 770,000 euros in funding.

Am 20. März 2025 findet von 9 bis 17 Uhr im Stadthaus Hermsdorf der 23. Thüringer Werkstofftag unter dem Motto »Neue Materialien – Neue Chancen!« statt. Die Veranstaltung bietet Forschenden eine zentrale Plattform, um neueste Entwicklungen in der Material- und Werkstoffforschung zu präsentieren und zu diskutieren. Auch die Bauhaus-Universität Weimar ist mit einem Vortrag und vier Posterbeiträgen präsent.

Imagine coming to Weimar, touring the Gropius Room and being able to invite your relatives in Hamburg to join you virtually. Imagine them experiencing the room not just on a video call, but as 3D avatars. You can talk to them live and – thanks to AI – even talk to the objects in the room.

Ten universities in nine European countries: The EU-funded »BAUHAUS4EU« Alliance launched at the beginning of January. The transnational cooperation, led by the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, is aiming to develop innovative digital teaching formats and strengthen internationalisation. The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, as project leader, has invited over 70 participants from all over Europe to a kick-off meeting in Weimar from 11 to 13 March.

As part of a semester project, Urbanistik students from the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar examined how cooperation between the towns of Suhl and Zella-Mehlis is perceived and the potential for inter-municipal cooperation. At the end of the 2024/2025 winter semester, the students presented the results of their project »Transformation durch Kooperation? Suhl und Zella-Mehlis im neuen Oberzentrum Südthüringen«.

The way people live is incredibly important – not only on an individual level, but also on a societal one. Our residential built environment affects social developments much in the same way our social practices affect our housing situation – but in what ways, exactly? Where do the conflicts and challenges lie, and how can research help solve the major housing issues we are facing?

A pilot project promoting sustainable material cycles is being launched at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar: »Materialverteiler«. The project hopes to provide students and instructors with a designated space for collecting recyclable materials and making the materials available for reuse free of charge. The aim is to conserve the resources being used in the Architecture and Urbanism degree programmes, reduce waste, and relieve the financial burden on students.

At the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, we understand that we play a key role in society, especially in Weimar and Thuringia. We fulfil this role by embracing social responsibility, actively representing democratic values in public, understanding democracy as a fundamental element of our identity, and drawing on scientific, artistic and administrative knowledge and expertise. To highlight this position, the Presidential Board is taking advantage of the 2025–2027 annual themes and providing targeted incentives to increase the visibility of research, teaching, and transfer activities in society. This includes two new funding initiatives: the BEYOND NOW Fund and the continuation of the »Demokratie stärken« (strengthening democracy) Fund.