OPINION Sigrid Ehrmann Environmental Planner & Landscape Architect “WILL THE NEW EUROPEAN BAU- HAUS BE THE FIRST STEP TO CREATING SUSTAINABLE, RESILIENT AND EQUITABLE CITIES?” “Good design can improve lives” is a catchphrase reminiscent of the influential German design school Bauhaus founded by Walter Gropius in 1919, which last year celebrated its 100th anniversary. With her appeal for a “new European Green Deal aesthetic combining good design with sustainability”, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled the Commission’s plans to revive the Bauhaus idea. 010 topos ISSUE 113
Opinion The New European Bauhaus forms part of the European Green Deal’s action plan that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55 per cent by 2030 and make Europe climate-neutral by 2050. It will be financed through the EU’s 750 billion-euro NextGenerationEU coronavirus recovery plan. In her State of the Union address Ursula von der Leyen called for a “Renovation Wave” to help Europe move to a circular economy. She stressed the importance of the project’s environmental, economic and cultural aspects, as well as the new Bauhaus’ role as “a co-creation space where architects, artists, students, engineers, designers work together to make that happen”. With the announcement, the Commission acknowledged two notable points. Firstly, the idea of Baukultur – architecture and construction as a cultural activity including its social, economic, ecological and aesthetic dimension – and its importance to society, which had been previously recognised by European Ministers of Culture in their Davos Declaration in 2018. And secondly, the key role the construction industry plays in emissions reduction and the creation of sustainable and climate-neutral cities and communities. Buildings account for around 40 per cent of the EU’s energy consumption and 36 per cent of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. With its Renovation Wave strategy, the EU aims to improve the energy performance of buildings through stronger regulations and the use of innovative materials, create green jobs and promote neighbourhood-based approaches and affordable housing. The New European Bauhaus “is intended to be a bridge between the world of science and technology and the world of art and culture”. Many details of this vision of a 21 st century Bauhaus remain hazy. A recently published fact sheet describes the New European Bauhaus as a forum for discussion, a space for art and culture, an experimentation lab, a hub for global networks and experts, and a contact point for citizens. In the initial stages, five projects will be created in different member states of the Union. The second phase from 2023 onwards will seek to establish projects and a network both inside and outside Europe. These pilot projects will focus on aspects such as natural building materials, energy efficiency, mobility and digital innovation. While a further exploration of natural and sustainable materials as well as the principles of a circular economy in architecture is commendable, a lack of political will to enforce a green transformation of the building sector is arguably more problematic. Can the European Green Deal lead to a change in policies and a muchneeded reform of the construction industry – a sector that is known to be slow to innovate? Though the original Bauhaus might not provide a model for ecological design, its holistic approach, experimental and innovative character and ideal of a socially responsible society could point the way. Beyond its aesthetic, the Bauhaus had an important political dimension. Its influence on both architecture and society is still apparent today. A New European Bauhaus that draws on the collective spirit of its predecessor and is based on co-creation and co-design might be lead to broad engagement and build “a tomorrow that is greener, more beautiful and humane”, as suggested by von der Leyen. The New European Bauhaus’ impact is supposed to reach beyond Europe’s borders, as “Europe is to lead the way in the twin green and digital transition”. A dialogue between cities on a global level is desirable, yet it needs to be a two-way conversation. There is much we can learn from cities in the Global South with regard to climate change adaptation, community building, rapid urbanisation and resilience. Good design can indeed improve lives. During the current pandemic crisis, the need for affordable high-quality housing and accessible green public space has become evident. We have to rethink how we build and inhabit our cities. Whether the European Green Deal and the New European Bauhaus can lead to systemic change and fight climate change, as it claims, remains to be seen. The EU’s credibility has been undermined by the recent approval of a new EU agricultural policy that critics claim will worsen the climate crisis, while EU environment ministers failed to strike a deal on its 2030 emissions reduction target. What has become clear is that to bring about systematic change and create sustainable, resilient and equitable cities, architects and urban designers need to be involved in decision-making processes. Let’s hope that the New European Bauhaus will be the first step. SIGRID EHRMANN holds a diploma degree in landscape architecture of the Technical University of Berlin. She works as a freelance landscape architect, environmental planner and writer. Based in Barcelona, a city renowned for its architecture, innovative urban transformations and creative scene, she conducts research on a variety of topics, ranging from climate change adaptation, green infrastructure and urban strategies to detailed landscape architecture and public space projects. topos 011
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