A Bauhaus Bathroom: Design Competition For a Public Restroom at Gropius House

Competition Brief

The design competition has a permanent public restroom at the Gropius House (Lincoln, Massachusetts) as its object. The main aim is to create a carefully-designed facility that is not only accessible but also functional and connected to the past by the aura of Walter Gropius and Bauhaus. The restroom’s location can be either where the current portable restroom is or right next to the visitor center/garage as a separate structure. Designers are required to consider the historical context while making it modern in terms of accessibility and comfort.

Purpose

A permanent, functional, and aesthetically appropriate restroom at Gropius House enhancing the visitor experience, preserving historical integrity, and reflecting Bauhaus principles.

Intent

To obtain innovative architectural proposals that weigh the functional requirements (accessibility, hygiene, user comfort) against the architectural quality, incorporating the contemporary design, sustainable practices, and historical sensitivity thereby creating a long-lasting facility that is apt for a heritage museum.

Jury

Manuela De Micheli — Partner and Art Director, Studio Transit, Italy
Tanja Huang — Curator, Department of Architecture and Design, MoMA
Philip Kenicott — Senior Art and Architecture Critic, The Washington Post
Antoine Picon — Professor of Architectural History and Technology, Harvard Graduate School of Design
Susan Stevens — Architectural Historian and Critic, former editor, Architectural Record
Nader Tehrani — Co-founder, NADAAA; former Dean, Cooper Union
Advisors: Jacob Albert, Allen Kolkovitz, Dietrich Neumann

Prizes

Fees

Participation is free.

Timeline

✦ ArchUp Competition Review

The Gropius House Restroom Design Competition is inviting the participants to design a long-lasting, accessible restroom in a site of historical modernism, which means they will have to face the challenge of fitting Bauhaus heritage into today’s world of functionality. The jury, whose members have been publicly disclosed, consists of curators, critics, historians, and architects and is therefore able to give very wide direction but at the same time may create different and even opposite interpretations of what is the main goal. There is no entry fee for the competition however, the USD 5,000 cash prize, while still being an attraction, is small in comparison to the work done, thus being the survey and exhibition the main drivers of long-term professional value. The designers have to find a way to cope with modern-day requirements of accessibility, sustainability, and user comfort while at the same time preserving the architectural integrity of the site, which might be particularly challenging for small teams. Nevertheless, the competition can be seen as a professional and academic exercise that can develop one’s portfolio and provide practical experience but its value comes primarily from the exposure and applied design challenge rather than from the financial reward.

Critical Analysis

Contextual and Functional Balance

The contest stimulates creativity in a straightforward and systematic manner, adhering to the limitations set by functionality and history. The proposed locations and the required functions (two toilets, two sinks, and compliance with the standards for the physically challenged) serve to clarify the situation for the contestants but at the same time, they offer them a wide range of ideas to choose from.

Jury Composition

The combination of the juries with historical, architectural, and analytical skills is the reason for examining the project from different angles: historical, aesthetic, functional, and cultural value. In their various fields the experts may differ in their views on which is more important the modern methods or the historical sensitivity.

Financial and Motivational Considerations

The nonexistence of the fees for entering the competition and the small cash prize signal a preference for the cultural and educational values over the financial ones. The support of the archives and the possibility of being exhibited are forms of recognition for students and young designers that will last for a long time.

Accessibility and Sustainability

The need for making places accessible to everyone and the use of universal design principles is a sign of the priorities given to the visitor’s experience and social justice. The use of environmentally friendly materials and the adaptation of the design to the existing buildings are the points at which the sustainability practices meet the historical context.

Design Challenge

The major hurdle is the merging of the original garage’s architectural character with modern functional needs. The restricted submission periods along with the high-quality expectations could be a problem for small teams lacking institutional backing.

In conclusion, the contest not only presents a clear and well-defined design opportunity but also merges historical conservation with modern day use and has the advantage of being judged by a well-balanced, professional jury. Winning the contest is going to be a matter of participants’ skill in combining contemporary design solutions with historical sensitivity while at the same time adhering to the functional and accessibility standards.

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