The proposed design for the Bauhaus Museum Dessau starts with a concept of unifying the historic principles and design style of the Bauhaus with contemporary life, thinking, and forms. The building is composed of two parts – a sustainable glass enclosure, and a carved mass – the contemporary and the historic. This design illuminates the Bauhaus mission statement, “The ultimate goal of all artistic activity is the building”, by integrating building theory into the manifestation of the physical form. By using this approach we have created a distinct identity for the museum and the exhibits within its volumes. This museum will ultimately broaden individual’s and society’s understanding of the Bauhaus style of design.

The proposed Bauhaus Museum is situated in the north-east corner of Dessau City Park. The linear building follows Kavalier Strasse forming an edge to the manipulated park landscape. The north entry and south terrace facades break the rectilinear grid of the building by opening towards Friedrichstraße to the north and the park to the south. The building sits on a hill in the park as an icon which celebrates contemporary architecture while drawing from historical elements. It maintains its presence during the day by reflecting the landscape and natural light. In the evening the museum becomes a glowing beacon in the center of Dessau.

The glass atrium blurs indoor and outdoor space creating an integrated connection to the park. Within the facade, a stone mass protects the relics of the Bauhaus collection. The building envelop consists of glass building louvers that create a self-ventilating skin which responds directly to the temperature and light of its immediate environment. The environment of the gallery and function spaces within that envelope can be mechanically manipulated by interior controllers linked to current weather conditions.  Radiant heating and cooling tubes cast into the walls and floors of the building are provided to maximize comfort and minimize energy use. The building can go from an individually climate controlled space to an open and naturally ventilated shelter.

The building’s orientation north / south takes full advantage of the prescribed building site and basic passive energy design. The short and covered facades on those ends allows clear glass openings to exist shielding them from the environment; forming both entry porch and private terrace. The long saw tooth east and west facades as well as roof have linear slot air supplies on the underside allowing air movement when desired.  Limited clear glass scalloped facade panels allow limited view to the park in strategically placed locations. Patrons, curators, and staff can be viewed filtering through the façade via varying opacities of the glass panels.

The Museum uses a combination of natural light and artificial light within its many volumes. The primary use of natural light in the atrium, entry and several permanent gallery spaces begins to highlight one of the many sustainable qualities that the building implements throughout the façade. Additionally the building utilizes dim-able LED strips which are mounted to the roof structure for galleries on the 3^rd floor as well as the concrete ceilings below. General gallery illumination is with linear LED strips mounted to concrete ceilings.

The museum’s main structure consists of concrete and natural stone, these elements provide a rigid skeleton for the building. The interior’s monolithic surfaces are punctuated with rectilinear openings that pay homage to the origin and primary structural design of the Bauhaus building in Dessau. Its volumes create a magnificent space for housing the extensive collection of the Bauhaus work.

The proposed solution offers layers of value that reinvigorate the Bauhaus ideals, create a sanctuary for the Bauhaus identity, and provide connection to historical principles in Bauhaus teachings. While the design creates engaging spaces for exhibitions, engaging public space, and beautiful event space, it also serves as the beginning of a new identity for Dessau and the Bauhaus. At the center of the city, this icon will project progressive ideas to Germany and the world about the possibilities for cultural institutions as urban focal points.