Symposium Constitution, Democracy and Building Culture (Constitution II)

Constitution – Democracy and Building Culture (Constitution II)
26.11.2019, 19:00 hrs.
BHROX bauhaus reuse, Ernst-Reuter-Platz, Berlin
1919-2019: 100 years of Bauhaus? Rather 100 years of the Weimar Constitution, 100 years of development of modernity and democratic state foundations in Central Europe. About the challenges to the connection of democracy and building culture today.
With: Christine Edmaier, Petra Ernstberger, Bernd Hunger, Reiner Nagel, Oliver Schruoffeneger, Christiane Thalgott (excused), and others.
Supported by Goethe-Institut, Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, Bundesstiftung Baukultur, Deutsch-Tschechischer Zukunftsfonds and Architektenkammer Berlin.

© zukunftsgeraeusche
In addition to the Bauhaus anniversary, 2019 marks a far more significant 100 years since the Weimar Constitution of 1919 came into force. It is no coincidence that significant anniversaries in Central Europe coincide in and around 2019 with the founding of modern states, such as the Czechoslovak Republic and the first democratic state in Germany.
Social emancipation in Central Europe unfolded a development of modernity, which at the time made possible both democratic constitutions and modern building culture and architecture. Yet 100 years later, the central questions – about housing, the city, public space, or the equality of women and men – continue to be debated controversially; whereupon the constitutions of the time now read like a commentary from a bygone era. At the same time, democracy is once again being called into question by right-wing parties and right-wing radicals.
The democratic models and architecture of modernism created an identification with a socially just society and built environment. In contrast, the question arises today as to what significance and position building culture has and must assume in the political discourse – ultimately with regard to a political and democratic responsibility of building culture? This should not remain merely a current debate about rights spaces (ARCH+ 235, May 2019). Certainly not should this flatten into a controversy about aesthetics. It is about a holistic discourse, about the socio-political significance of building culture – from the founding of states in Central Europe, the emergence of the Weimar Constitution to the end of the Weimar Republic and the civilizational crash in Nazi Germany, through the post-war period marked by revisionism and the Cold War, to today’s European present – for a modern, emancipated, democratic society.
The discussion Constitution – Democracy and Building Culture (Constitution II) on November 26 in Berlin is the conclusion of the re:bauhaus festival and follows the corresponding first discussion “The Weimar Constitution. A Century full of Questions” (Constitution I), which took place on May 16 in Ostrava (guests: Daniel Kroupa, Josef Baxa, Petra Ernstberger and Radoslav Prochazka).
The transnational festival re:bauhaus – modern emancipation, education, exchange in Central Europe was initiated by the Goethe-Institut in cooperation with BHROX bauhaus reuse, curatorial collaborative, National Gallery Prague, PLATO Ostrava and zukunftsgeraeusche, supported by the Federal Agency for Civic Education, the Federal Foundation for Building Culture and the German-Czech Future Fund as well as in Berlin in cooperation with the Chamber of Architects Berlin, the Technical University Berlin and the District Office Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf. Discussion event
Constitution – Democracy and Building Culture (Constitution II).
26.11.2019, Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.
BHROX bauhaus reuse, Ernst-Reuter-Platz, Berlin.
The event will be audio-visually recorded and later published for extended audience.
The event will be audio-visually recorded.
18:00 (Admission)
Presentation
re:bauhaus Manifesto
19:00
Panel discussion
Constitution – Democracy and Building Culture
with (among others):
Christiane Thalgott (excused), Stadtbaurätin a. D.
Christine Edmaier, Berlin Chamber of Architects
Petra Ernstberger, German-Czech Future Fund
Dr. Bernd Hunger, Competence Center for Large Housing Estates e.V.
Reiner Nagel, Federal Foundation for Building Culture
Oliver Schruoffeneger, District Councillor for Urban Development, Building and Environment (Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf)
Moderation: Robert K. Huber and Helena Doudová