In March 2006, the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation will confer the International Bauhaus Award for the fourth time. The emphasis is on design projects that tackle the theme “Updating Modernism”. The International Bauhaus Award is directed at young designers and academics, irrespective of discipline and profession. Team entries are welcomed. Closing date for entries is 9th January 2006.

Theme
How do we update Modernism in the case of the Bauhaus World Cultural Heritage? The Foundation is interested in forward-looking ideas for the Gropius Director’s House in the Ensemble of Masters' Houses in Dessau.

Since the completion of restoration, the Dessau Ensemble of Masters' Houses shines, as does the Bauhaus Building, in its new “old” guise. These are aesthetic objects and, at the same time, documents of the historical Bauhaus ideas. They mirror the discourse on the technological, social and aesthetic problems and opportunities of the period. As such, they have become symbols of modernity. This is what makes the buildings and ideas of the Bauhaus World Cultural Heritage.

Built by Walter Gropius in 1926, the Ensemble of Masters' Houses originally consisted of the Director’s House and three pairs of semi-detached houses. These are now named after their first residents (Moholy-Nagy/Feininger, Muche/Schlemmer and Kandinsky/Klee). During World War II air raids, the Moholy-Nagy semi-detached house was completely destroyed, as was most of the Director’s House. Here, in 1956, a gable-roofed house was built on the original foundations.

After restoration work on the five preserved Master Houses was completed in 2002, the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation initiated a debate on approaches to the destroyed Director’s House. Beyond the alternatives presented by the “Reconstruction” of Modernism and the “Conservation” of historical development on the site lies the third alternative of “Updating Modernism”.

Modernism is a never-ending project that is constantly redefined – and, indeed, has to be refined – from within. Moreover, the speed with which the visible proof of Modernist design is consigned to history – Classical Modernism, Post-War Modernism, Post Modernism, and Second Modernism – is increasing all the time.

Designers, artists and academics working today have a different approach to design from the protagonists of “Classical Modernism”. Work entered for the Bauhaus Award must take up the issues of Modernism and transform them in a forward-looking way.

The former Director’s House presents an opportunity to find new projects that have an eye to the future, that build a discernible relationship with the site, with urban development in Dessau and with the Bauhaus. Young designers, artists and academics are invited to propose solutions for the Director’s House and the Masters' Houses that identify with, and further develop, the basic values of Modernism.

What is the future of Modernism?

Conditions of entry
The competition is open to those born after 25 th March 1966, i.e., under 40 years of age at the time the award is presented. In team entries, this is applicable to all the members of the team.

Only one entry per person or group is permitted.

Persons or groups who, within the time frame of the competition, work either in or for the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation are excluded from the Bauhaus Award.

All participants in the projects must be named in the project description.

Criteria
The entry must have an evident connection with the theme “Updating Modernism“.

The entry must have an exemplary thematic relevance, precision of content and conceptual thoroughness.

Further assessment criteria are the originality and the formal quality of the entry.

The work entered may not, at the closing date for the International Bauhaus Award, be more than 2 years old.

Entries may include work already published:
In the case of a realised architectural, urban development, art or design project, the official date of its completion or inauguration is applicable.
In the case of a film or television production, the date of its first transmission is applicable.
In the case of an internet production, the first day the project was accessible online is applicable.
In the case of a publication, the first year in which the first print was published is applicable.
In the case of a Master’s degree, doctorate or postdoctoral qualification, the date of its submission is applicable.

Jury
The selection process to ascertain the winner of the International Bauhaus Award consists of three steps:
- Viewing commission
- First round jury
- Second round jury

The viewing commission ascertains, from 18 th to 20 th January 2006, the completeness and thematic orientation of the entries.

The first round jury selects, on 16 th and 17 th February, a minimum of 7 and a maximum of 10 potential prizewinners from the works chosen by the viewing commission. These will be invited to make a public presentation of their work to the second round jury at the Bauhaus in Dessau for the presentation of the 4 th Bauhaus Award on 25 th March 2006. Following this presentation, the second round jury will announce the winner.

The particulars of the selection process are regulated by the rules of procedure of the International Bauhaus Award.

The members of both juries will be announced on the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation homepage.

Documents required for submission
Interested parties should apply with the following documents:

-One-page biography, maximum 2,500 signs, including the exact date of birth (day, month and year), in English – 10 copies (Group entries: one page, maximum 2,500 signs per group member).
-One-page project description, maximum 2,500 signs, in English – 10 copies
-Author statement, including statement of approval by co-authors if applicable, in English – one copy.
-A statement saying that the applicant, or in the case of a group entry one member of the group, is prepared and able if nominated to the second round to present the work to the second round jury on 25th March 2006 at the Bauhaus in Dessau, in English– one copy.
-A statement agreeing to the conditions of the competition and the rules of procedure, in English – one copy.
-Either (A) plan or presentation data or (B) film production or (C) text or publication –one copy respectively:

(A) Plan or presentation data will only be accepted in digital form.
Media: Accepted media for digital presentations are, exclusively:
CD-ROM
CD-R
DVD
DVD-R

Data formats: Accepted formats for digital presentations are, exclusively:
Microsoft Powerpoint (*.ppt, *.pps, *.exe)
Adobe PDF (*.pdf)
Websites (*.html, *.css, *.js, *.xml) only as offline websites! The start page should be titled “index.html“.
Macromedia Flash (*.swf)
autorun/interactive PC or Mac based CD/DVD - productions
Running time: Jury members must be able to grasp the content of the project presentations within 15 minutes.

Resolution: Presentation optimized for 1024 x 768 pixels

Language: English

(B) Film production

Media: Accepted media for film productions are in PAL, exclusively
VHS
DVD
DVD-R
DVD+R
CD-R

Formats: Accepted formats for film productions are in PAL, exclusively
VHS
S-VHS
SVCD
VCD
DVD
Running time: Jury members must be able to grasp the content of the film productions within 15 minutes.

Presentation: The film productions will be presented only on standard VHS or DVD players, not on computers

Language: English

(C) Text or publication as original or copy – one copy

Academic and theoretical work must, along with the project description, be accompanied by a maximum 10-page summary, in English – one copy.

Systems for jury presentation have no media tools other than those integrated within the scope of the manufacturer’s operating system. No additional applications, plugins, applets or codecs may be installed.

Please ensure that presentations are in keeping with the current technical standard.

All submissions will, in the presentation to jury in the Bauhaus, not be printed, but shown via video projector.

Projects handed in on ZIP, floppy disk or website links will not be accepted.

Presentation of prizes
The prize giving will take place on 25 th March 2006 at the Bauhaus in Dessau. Prior to the final decision of the jury, the candidates chosen by the first round jury will give a public presentation of their work.

Prizes
First, second and third prizes will be awarded. The first prize is € 6,000, the second € 4,000 and the third € 2,000.

Deadlines
Please send all documents required for submission to the following address by 9th January 2006:

If sent by post:
Bauhaus Dessau Foundation
International Bauhaus Award / Bidding documents
P.O. Box 1405
D-06813 Dessau

If sent by courier service:
Bauhaus Dessau Foundation
International Bauhaus Award / Bidding documents
Gropiusallee 38
D-06846 Dessau

Entries date-stamped later than 9th January 2006 or received after 16th January 2006 will not be considered and will be returned immediately.

The electronic data transfer of submissions is not permissible.

The first round jury meets on 16 th and 17 th February following preparatory proceedings by the viewing commission. Immediately after the presentation of the jury protocol, invitations are extended to those candidates invited to participate in the second round.

The second round jury meets on 24 th and 25 th March. The presentation of shortlisted submissions, the announcement of the prizewinners and the award ceremony will take place on 25 th March at the Bauhaus in Dessau.