30 Years of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Celebration at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
In 1996, the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar’s Van de Velde buildings and the Haus am Horn were designate UNESCO World Heritage Sites. To mark this anniversary, the city of Weimar, the Klassik Stiftung Weimar, and the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar are organising a ceremony that will be held as part of this year’s UNESCO World Heritage Day on 7 June 2026 from 11 am to 1 pm in the Maurice-Halbwachs-Auditorium at the University Library.
The event will kick off with Thuringian Minister of Education Christian Tischner, Weimar’s Mayor Ralf Kirsten, Prof. Peter Benz, President of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, and Dr. Annette Ludwig, Director of the Klassik Stiftung Weimar’s Museum Division. Prof. Daniela Spiegel from the Professorship of Conservation and History of Architecture will give a lecture on »Bauhaus. Mein Erbe, Dein Erbe, Welterbe« (Bauhaus. My Heritage, Your Heritage, World Heritage). This will be followed by a panel discussion including various partners from Weimar and Dessau, who will explore the cultural heritage of the historic Bauhaus and shed light on current challenges.
Organisers of the event are also offering a broad supporting programme, including an audio walk across campus, tours of the Director’s Room designed by Walter Gropius, a themed tour of the Haus am Horn UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a discussion series on slag concrete, alabaster glass, Triolin, and other innovative building materials.
Pop-Up Exhibition for the 100th Anniversary of Bauhaus in Dessau
As part of the 100th anniversary celebrations in Dessau, the Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau will be bringing a pop-up exhibition and an open workshop series to Weimar for World Heritage Weekend. From 4 to 7 June, visitors can enjoy the »An die Substanz« pop-up exhibition in the foyer of the University Library from 10 am to 6 pm. The exhibition highlights »Materials of Modernity« – concrete, steel, glass, brick, aluminium – and connects them to well-known Bauhaus designs.
Three-dimensional, larger-than-life displays create walk-in spaces where the material essence of the Bauhaus can be experienced in a sensory way. Inspired by historical exhibition concepts, the displays unfold into spatial collages that adapt to their environments. Those interested are warmly invited to the accompanying workshop programme on Saturday, 6 June 2026, where experimental materials research, question patterns of perception, and the rediscovery of Bauhaus design ideas will take place.
The exhibition is travelling from Berlin to Stuttgart to Weimar and incorporating the anniversary themes into lively discussions between history and the present.
»30 Years of UNESCO World Heritage Sites« Celebration
Sunday, 7 June 2026, 11 am to 1 pm
Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Maurice-Halbwachs-Auditorium,
University Library, Steubenstraße 6
Programme
Welcoming Address
Prof. Peter Benz, President of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
Welcoming Address
Christian Tischner, Thuringian Minister of »Bildung, Wissenschaft und Kultur«
Dr. Annette Ludwig, Director of the Klassik Stiftung Weimar’s Museum Division
Ralf Kirsten, Mayor of Weimar
»Bauhaus. Mein Erbe, Dein Erbe, Welterbe« Lecture
Prof. Daniela Spiegel, Professorship of Conservation and History of Architecture, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
Podium Discussion »30 Jahre Welterbe: Zwischen Auszeichnung, Herausforderung und Alltag« with
Dorothea Roos,
Director of the Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau’s Construction Department
Susanne Dieckmann,
Director of the Klassik Stiftung Weimar’s Construction and Historic Preservation Department
Frank Pieter Hesse,
Former Spokesperson for the ICOMOS Deutschland Monitoring Group
Dr. Marlen Meißner,
Department Director of Heritage, Nature, Society, German UNESCO Commission
Moderation: Dr. Kirsten Angermann, Professorship of Conservation and History of Architecture, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
Musical accompaniment by accordion duo con:trust
Guests are invited to join a reception in the foyer of the University Library afterwards.
Supporting Programme for the Celebration
Bauhaus.Atelier | Info Shop Café
Geschwister-Scholl-Straße 6a
1 - 5 pm
»Where is Walter?« Audio Walk
Take an hour-long audio walk on your own through the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar campus. The app can be downloaded for free in app stores.
Director’s Room
Main Building of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar,
Geschwister-Scholl-Straße 8 1st Floor
2 to 5 pm, 20-minute guided tours
Themed tours of the Haus am Horn UNESCO World Heritage Site
3 - 4 pm
The Haus am Horn can be explored during the national World Heritage Day.
Klassik Stiftung Weimar
Materials Discussion at the Haus am Horn
Slag concrete, alabaster glass, Triolin, and other innovative materials of the 1920s.
Haus am Horn, Am Horn 61
4 - 6 pm
Contact:
Birgit Busch (Klassik Stiftung Weimar, conservator)
Dorothea Roos (Director of the Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau’s »Bau, Bauforschung, Denkmalpflege« Department)
Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau
Further information can be found under:
https://www.weimar.de/veranstaltungen-zum-unesco-welterbetag/
https://www.weimar.de/tourismus/das-ist-weimar/unesco-welterbe-bauhaus/