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.

Bis 2027 fördert die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft das gemeinsam von Bauhaus-Universität Weimar und Universität Kassel durchgeführte Forschungsprojekt »Urbane Großprojekte im Diskurs«. In diesem Kontext widmete sich im September 2024 ein Workshop neuen Forschungslinien in der internationalen Megaprojekteforschung.

On 27 January, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar will mark the end of its multi-year project, »Erinnerungs- und Informationsmedien auf dem Campus«. The aim of the project was to investigate the Nazi history of university buildings and to make it public. The project focusses on two buildings: Marienstraße 13/15, once the headquarters of the »Thüringer Landesamtes für Rassewesen« (Thuringian State Office for Racial Affairs), and Belvederer Allee 6, a former »Jewish House«.

Up-and-coming talent in the construction industry was recognised by the »RKW Kompetenzzentrum« at »BAU 2025«, the world’s leading trade fair, in Munich on 14 January 2025. Among the award winners was Markus Boden, a scientific associate at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar’s Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering. His free digitalisation check for small and medium-sized companies in the construction industry impressed the jury and won him first place in the »Baubetriebswirtschaft« category. The university will be represented at a stand at the trade fair until Friday.

The global population is increasing steadily, as is the trend towards urbanisation. More and more surfaces are being paved. Green is turning more and more into grey – even in cities. Without plants to cool and clean urban air, heat islands and particle pollution will increase dramatically. Additionally, the increasing heavy rainfalls lead to increased flooding if the water is only able to drain into the sewer system and not into green spaces. In order for our cities to be sustainably liveable, they need more vegetation without sacrificing the usable spaces for which demand is increasing. This is precisely where innovative solutions like the VertiKKA project at the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering come into play.

Long-lasting, robust, malleable – concrete is the 21st century’s most important building material. The original three-material system (cement, gravel, water) has become a high-performance material with properties that can be customised through the mix formulation. But there is one problem: Once concrete has been mixed, it can no longer be adapted. This means that unwanted changes in flow behaviour or durability—caused, for example, by varying environmental conditions or fluctuations in raw materials—can no longer be corrected.

Radio has been a medium of listening for more than 100 years – worldwide. This is the subject of the six-part podcast »Listening to the World – 100 Years of Radio Art«. All six episodes were broadcast on Deutschlandfunk Kultur and can now be heard in the ARD Audiothek and wherever podcasts are available.

A lack of public services, an ageing population, shrinking communities, climate change, a loss of trust in democracy — the Thuringian Forest is facing a broad range of challenges. But at the same time, ecological and social changes are opening up new opportunities—what will it take to sustainably transform the region for future generations?

The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar’s interdisciplinary research workshop »Dimensionen des ruhenden Verkehrs« (»Dimensions of stationary traffic«) is launching its lecture and workshop series entitled »Was ist das Auto, wenn es nicht fährt?« (»What is the car when it’s not driving?«) starting on 18 November. This series will invite exploration of the phenomenon of stationary traffic from various scientific perspectives. On three evenings in the winter semester of 2024/25, experts from the fields of transport planning, social sciences and media studies will present their findings and engage in discussions about them during workshops on the mornings that follow.

A project in the Faculty of Art and Design is working on digitally customised, 3D printed foot orthoses. The project will make everyday life easier for affected patients. Researchers on the »Digitale Orthetik« project were awarded a gold medal at the international »Ideen, Erfindungen, Neuheiten« (iENA) trade fair. The project was funded by the Thuringian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Science and Digital Society.

Die Bauhaus-Universität Weimar beteiligt sich vom 7. bis 9. November 2024 an der diesjährigen Europäischen Leitmesse für Denkmalpflege, Restaurierung und Altbausanierung »denkmal«. Mehrere Professuren und Institutionen der Architektur und Urbanistik sowie Bau- und Umweltingenieurwissenschaften stellen ausgewählte Forschungsprojekte rund um die Themen Bestand und Kulturerbe vor. Die denkmal-Messe findet im zweijährigen Turnus in Leipzig statt und richtet sich an die nationale und internationale Fachwelt.

Bauhaus-Universität Weimar students are establishing a meeting space in the heart of Suhl’s city centre. On 5 and 6 November 2024, students will be collecting past, present, and future urban society stories during the pottery market in the hopes of engaging with local citizens. Various events are planned, including a storytelling café and a panel discussion.

Natural hazards and severe weather events put buildings under great stress. Junior Professor Anastasia Athanasiou is investigating how to plan and build tall, slender structures safely and in a resource-efficient manner. Since July 2023, she has held the newly established chair of Natural Hazards and Structural Resilience at the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. A native of Greece, she previously worked at the University of Catania (Italy) and Concordia University in Montreal (Canada). In her inaugural lecture, she will report on the challenges of the past year and provide an insight into current research achievements.