Tracing Bauhaus Pedagogy
Matthew Shanley
The Student Experience: Studying at the Bauhaus-Universität An interview with Gabriela Oroz, the Marketing Manager for the Deans Office of the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism was undertaken during the research trip (see Appendix D for transcript). During this interview the current nature of the school was discussed in relation to the theme of the dissertation, as well as talking about the historical context of the Bauhaus in Weimar and what this means for the school today. A questionnaire prepared for faculty members of the school formed the structure of the interview (see Appendix E). These questions helped to delve into the heart of the current school, and were the starting point for a number of other discussions which arose during the course of the interview. One of the key principles discussed, and an important element in the structure of the degree programmes, is the BachelorEinführungskurs (Bachelor Introductory Course). It is an established tradition that new bachelor students to the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism take part in a two week programme of activities that introduce the students to the school, the staff, and to other new students. This includes drawing, designing, model making, and group work to prepare for a final performance at the end of these two weeks. Gabriela commented that: We don’t of course have the Vorkurs as they did, but we do for example have the Bachelors students who at the beginning of the year have a 2 week dive into the study programme … Within these two weeks they create and explore, with the Bauhaus approach, costumes and a much more. It’s very similar to the parties and celebrations, dances and theatre performances [of the Bauhaus].76 The culmination of the Einführungskurs is a performance by the Bachelor students to the faculty, other students and the rest of the public (Fig. 33). The new students work in small groups to plan their contribution to the final performance, collaborating with other students as part of the overall theme of the event. Each group then submits a draft concept at the end of the first week of the course, with the final week spent realising their intentions for the event. Each year the students are given a different theme for the performance and in 2013 semester starting in October this was ARCHITEKTROMMelwirbel (Architect Drumroll). Students were encouraged to express themselves through a vocal performance, creating brightly coloured costumes, drums, flutes and much more made from recycled plastic, paper, wood, rubber and metal, realising the exploration and creation they had carried out in the
Fig. 33. i) ii) & iii) ARCHITEKTROMMelwirbel, BachelorEinführungskursI, 2013. 30