Under the influence of new technologies, the spatial and temporal order of cities is increasingly disintegrating, and working and living conditions are fundamentally changing. What will be the outcome of these dynamics for the individual and for the city? Based on the lifestyle of a new elite who benefit from the service economy, this book discusses the potential consequences for architecture and urban planning. In an experimental study, an urban-planning strategy for a new service site in Sydney is being developed in which information and communication technologies become decisive factors of the plan. “Serve City” stands for the modern, interactive city of the near future.

Imagine a journey around the world, where you meet 28 stimulating figures from the fields of architecture, marketing, politics and industrial design to discuss possible alternatives for restoring the Director’s House built for Walter Gropius in Dessau. Matthias Hollwich and Rainer Weisbach have just been on one such journey – a trip that dramatically altered their own views and opinions. The search for answers to questions regarding modernizing Modernism itself led to a process of modernizing their own ideas, hastening the departure from preconceived viewpoints and sensitizing them for new associations between the Gropius House, Modernism, today\'s society and their own tasks. The result is video interviews, the edited video, project concepts, processes, further developments and this book: UmBauhaus. The video and book represent a brainstorming session on updating Modernism, an injection of plurality, inspiration and entertainment in an otherwise extremely monotone environment of debates and discussions on the subject. UmBauhaus does not offer any clear answers, but rather poses many questions, themselves derived from the individual contributions or the very structure and layout of the book itself. The authors have deliberately taken a risk in mixing highbrow with popular culture, and theory with banal practice. The book is thus similar to a rap through historical events – a combination that is at once a sign of the times and a confrontation with reality. And is it possible nowadays to debate restoration without including the phenomenon of plastic surgery? If Mike and Matt want to look like Brad Pitt (as in MTV‘s I want a famous face) then this is linked with the desire to resurrect the Bauhaus Director’s House. Undertake a journey with this book. Drop your predetermined views and draw your own conclusions. This book is a call to experiment with our own ideas and an attempt at generating new results from a debate, a project and a process. "Whoever wins is modern!" – Otto Rehhagel

Civic Culture Commitment to the community has a tradition in Germany, both in the West – where citizens’ initiatives were once an almost everyday phenomenon, particularly during the 70s and 80s –, and in East Germany at the time of the Wende, when “round tables” were characteristic of cultural and political life. In those days, the models of participation were founded on private activities, but now the impulse towards involvement in social policy and urban planning comes from the state. Faced by empty public coffers and increasing social problems, the success of the IBA Urban Redevelopment 2010 is dependent on a sense of community and active involvement by citizens – there is a new demand for a liberal, open discourse on the quality of urban life. Vol. 2 of the IBA series reflects these changes, and asks how citizens’ commitment – expressed in political discussions, planning and everyday urban culture – has altered during recent years. It introduces new strategies of cooperation to help communities, designers and administration meet the great challenges created by the shrinking of our cities.

The International Building Exhibition (IBA) Urban Redevelopment Saxony- Anhalt 2010 is attracting attention and eliciting reactions – among citizens, in local and state politics, but also within specialist circles. A new planning approach to the city, its potentials and options is developing before the background of shrinking and demographic change. The image of the city is changing. This book reflects on the strategic starting points of the IBA Urban Redevelopment 2010 and sheds light on its themes, concepts and protagonists. In addition, representatives of local and state politics are given an opportunity to document the state of discussion in the participating cities.

The Bauhaus building in Dessau has had a significant impact on the development of Modernism of the 20th century – far beyond its architectural aspects. On the occasion of the 80th birthday of the recently-renovated building, this volume discusses its undiminished fascinating effect across three chapters- “Architecture”, “Images” and “Monument”. Based on recent findings in the history and theory of architecture, for example, the Japanese influences on the shapes and themes of the building and the continuity and transformations of contemporary modern architecture principles are discussed. The question why the primarily black and white image of the Bauhaus building has become one of the most important icons of Modernism, even though its architecture and room concept cannot be depicted two-dimensionally, is discussed, as well as aims and methods of the renewed renovation that rendered the building close to the colourful original image of 1926. A black and white flip-book, featuring the entrance into the Bauhaus building, complements the book.

IBA Stadtumbau 2010

All across the globe, countries are facing the phenomenon of decreasing population figures, increased emigration and thus shrinking cities. Using the example of Saxony-Anhalt, the IBA Urban Redevelopment 2010 examines possibilities and strategies to cope with these urgent problems.As part of the Edition Bauhaus, the fifth volume of the IBA series introduces the planning instruments currently applicable to city redevelopment in the sectors of politics, community and regional planning, legislation and public-private partnerships. It becomes apparent that the IBA Urban Redevelopment 2010 is embarking on new measures. In addition, the volume continues the reports from the 18 IBA cities and eloquently provides essential insights into the experiences on location during the redevelopment process. In the long term, the current urban planning methods and structures will hardly be able to meet the requirements of shrinking cities.

IBA Stadtumbau 2010

Which role does the historic legacy play in the future of a city? This question is especially vital for cities that are facing demographic change, economic stagnation and a diminishing population. Innovative strategies are needed – also beyond the current parameters of preservation of monuments and historic buildings. This creates new aspects for discussion in the discourse surrounding monument preservation. The re-evaluation of the buildings at hand and the subsequent discourse are illustrated using select cities such as Quedlinburg, Halle-Neustadt, Le Havre, Ljubljana and Novi Beograd. All phases of their history are of importance and have an equal right to be accepted. The IBA is planning to specifically employ contemporary methods of the preservation of monuments and historic buildings in some of the cities participating as an instrument for urban redevelopment. Volume 6 of the IBA series includes contributions discussing contemporary approaches and strategies for the preservation of monuments and historic buildings in the context of demographic change and city development.