Article in “Mitteldeutsche Zeitung”, edition of July 9th

Many -faced: Zeche Zollverein, Sanaa-Building, Essen

“Activating Junkalor” is the task of Dessau Summerschool of Architecture in 2010. We will work on the abandoned Art Nouveau Hall in Dessau, a former plant of Hugo Junkers, the German aircraft pioneer and partner of Walter Gropius when Bauhaus moved from Weimar to Dessau in 1926.
At present, deconstruction is going on at the neighbouring areas. Just recently, on April 21st, 2010, the Building Committee of Dessau City Council made a postponement for the tearing down of this particular hall until September, 2010.

Master Students after graduation at Judson University

Hey,

this is Mathias. It is April 2010 and I’m currently at Judson

University in Elgin, Chicago. I have a great time here beside

my study going to Chicago Downtown (every weekend) ,

Milwaukee, Washinghton DC, Philadelphia, New York ,

Indianapolis (in spring break)……

At first I would like to write about Chicago. If you want to

visit the USA, travel to Chicago and you will never forget

this experience because Chicago is “the” city of architecture

in the USA.

The most impressive about this city are the skyscrapers.

You are getting lost in the canyons between the buildings.

So far I have visited Chicago 8 times and there is always

something to discover. Hot spots are the Hancock Tower,

The Art Institute of Chicago, the Milennium Park, the Navy

Pier, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Planetarium,

Field Museum, Michigan Avenue ……..

And I’m sure that I will discover much more until the end

of my exchange semester.  But these aren’t the only

experiences I have made.

I also went to Milwaukee to visit the Calatrava pavilion.

The design of the building is the most impressive architecture

I’ve ever seen in my life. I spent a whole day with architecture

students from my University in this city. You only need a car

and you can drive wherever you want.

Learning and speaking a different language in everyday life,

studying in the Master Course at a private university and

beeing in a country with different cultures and habitsis….

this is so exiting for me. And the architecture programm

is great too. Less classes and much more intensive care are

the strengths of this University. Sustainability plays the largest

role in the architecture program. You will find this aspect in

each class. I chose two other classes beside the advanced

studio class for the Master Students. The first one is acoustic

class and the second one is sculpture class.  I could not choose

more because these classes are so intense. I love working in

the studio with all the other architecture students. You can

talk with the juniors, seniors, master students and the

professors about the projects and discuss about different opinions

whenever you want.

The interactive studio space is located in a new architecture

building with a huge atrium. My workspace was located in

front of the huge glass window of the atrium.  The best working

atmosphere I’ve ever seen.  The relationship between Students

and Professors is intensive, more close and familiar.

The projects in studio are very interesting. The most important

fact beside climatic influences and the landscape design is

sustainability. The most interesting class is acoustic class.

We had guest lectures from employers from different acoustic

firms and we took an excursion to the Shakespeare Theatre

in Chicago to study the acoustic environment in this building.

I have realized that the design process is different than in Dessau.

The architecture program at Judson University follows a very

structured curriculum which leads to extended work hours in studio

( 2 am in the morning is normal ).

I’m living in the Lindner Dorm  with two American design

students. The community on campus is great. Everyone

knows each other. There is always someone who wants to

talk with the german guy. And you  will find a lot of friends

for lifetime. I will miss the master students from my course

who spent many nights, working on our projects in the studio.

And I will also miss the excitement of learning about a culture

and city that is rich in architecture.

All in all I think this is an excellent exchange program and an

exciting opportunity to study in USA, a totally different but

exiting world. I would take an exchange semester again. I’m

enjoying the time and the culture.

I really hope everyone can visit Chicago and see this in

there lifetime.  I am very glad I did.

Greetings from Chicago

See you later.

Mathias Lehmann

Millennium Park in Chicago

Master students, my brother and me

Skyline of New York

Trip to Philadelphia

Trip to Washinghton DC

midterm presentation in front of guest architects and professors

Hey, this is Christian.

In last fall I have studied at the FAU in Fort Lauderdale architecture and was inspired by the offered courses very much.

The contact with the professors and students has very felt well.

After my stay in Fort Lauderdale I had visited Washington and New York.
So I can recommend to everybody this exchange programme.

Yours sincerely

Christian Pioch

Washington

New York

Studio ended very successful with the students presenting a network of eight interventions to be applied to the City of Werben / Elbe with the following topics: “OnSiteLab”, “OvercomingGates”, “SocialNetworks”, “GothicRoute”, “MED-Works”, “Modular River Highway”, “City Theatre” and “Werben Modular Embassy”.

Representatives of the City of Werben, the Administrative District of Stendal and the IBA Urban Redevelopment Saxony – Anhalt 2010 Project participated in the discussion at the “Bauhaus – Bridge”.

this is Lisa. I am currently at Judson University in Elgin, close to Chicago – an advantage!

I am having a lot of different experiences. Not only speaking another language in everydaylife, but also to be in a country where there are so many different customs and traditions – which is not like I expected it to be. The Architecture Program differs very much from what I was used to at Anhalt University of Applied Science. I do not have as many classes, but those I have are therefore more intense. What I really like about the program here is working in the studio. In the building where the architecture faculty is located, is a huge room where every student of every semester has their own workspace. This arrangement creates an atmosphere that I really enjoy. You always have the opportunity to ask your classmates, talk with them about your or their projects, and discuss different opinions on architecture.

And the professors are very interested in the “european” way of architecture. I like the good relationship between students and professors.

The city of Chicago is an amazing place to experience works of world reknown architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe and Frank Gehry. Chicago is “the” city of architecture in the USA. But I also really like the numerous art works.

I go to downtown Chicago as much as I can to experience the wind from Lake Michigan blowing through the shady urban canyons; Michigan Avenue with the fancy shops where the Chicago people present their new designer clothes; the Lakeshore walk where people train for the next Chicago Marathon; the 200,000 people in Grant Park celebrating Barack Obama to be their next President; …

The life at Judson’s campus is an adventure for me. I am sharing my room with two American girls who have totally different majors and backgrounds so sometimes we have differing opinions. But this type of living creates a good commuity when you know that there will always be someone next door, or one story down, to talk, to have a nice time with.