Utilitarian and mass-produced, the portable toilet at the Gropius House unexpectedly echoes Bauhaus values. But it was always meant to be a stop-gap solution that is clearly inelegant and does not meet contemporary accessibility standards. It fails to adequately welcome visitors to this iconic property. Through this competition, Historic New England is soliciting thoughtful, inventive ideas to solve this problem for future generations of visitors.
The competition invites designers to channel the Bauhaus spirit — experiment with materials, push boundaries, and collaborate across disciplines from architecture to landscape to graphics to industrial design — to create a permanent restroom solution and to reimagine the visitor arrival experience at one of Historic New England’s most celebrated museums.
The competition has two key goals:
Research and reflection: The competition celebrates the legacy of Walter Gropius and his impact on the Modern Movement, both globally and in New England, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus Dessau in 2025. Historic New England invites fresh thinking and research that engage with Gropius’s ideas and their continued relevance today, creating a survey of contemporary Bauhaus inspiration and influence.
Creative responses to a longstanding site challenge: The competition aims to tackle a persistent practical need at Gropius House: the lack of a thoughtfully designed, accessible, public restroom. Since the site became part of Historic New England’s holdings over forty years ago, no solution has successfully resolved this functional requirement. This competition initiates a deeper exploration into how such a facility can be creatively and sensitively integrated into the site and its existing architecture. This design solution will play a critical role in creating a sense of arrival for visitors to the site and in framing the viewshed to the main house.
Eligibility
The competition celebrates the Bauhaus spirit of collaboration by welcoming designers from all disciplines to contribute creative perspectives. In the same spirit, collaboration across design fields is strongly encouraged including participation from graphic designers, industrial designers, and other aligned professionals.
Professionals: A wide-range of practicing design professionals may participate. While focused on architecture, teams can include graphic designers, industrial designers, and other disciplines influenced by Gropius.
Students: Students in architecture and related design disciplines are encouraged to explore this challenge through bold, imaginative proposals.
Awards
The winning team will receive a cash prize, a place in the Gropius House archives, and an exhibition at the property. Historic New England aspires to ultimately build the selected design.
