Winning Designer Revealed for Bauhaus-Inspired Public Bathroom at Gropius House

Global Competition Launched to Design Bathroom for Bauhaus Icon

In November 2025, nearly 300 designers from around the world began crafting submissions for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: designing a public restroom for the Gropius House, the former home of Walter Gropius, the late German architect and founder of the Bauhaus (1919–1933). The competition challenged designers to create a new facility that would reflect Bauhaus design principles while addressing a decades-old infrastructure need.

Preserving Legacy: The Gropius House and Its Modernist Vision

The Gropius House, located in Lincoln, Massachusetts, is a National Historic Landmark and a testament to Walter Gropius’ modernist philosophy. Built in 1938 as his family home, the property blends traditional New England architecture with innovative materials and cutting-edge technology. Historic New England, a non-profit organization that preserves 127 historic properties, maintains the site for public visitation.

Gropius’ design ethos emphasized meticulous material selection, technological innovation, and harmonious integration with the surrounding landscape. The house features wood, brick, and fieldstone alongside modern elements like glass block, acoustical plaster, chrome banisters, and advanced fixtures. Even the grounds were designed with the same care as the structure itself.

Urgent Need for Improved Visitor Facilities

Despite attracting thousands of visitors annually, the Gropius House lacked adequate restroom facilities. According to Vin Cipolla, CEO of Historic New England, visitors had to use a single porta-potty near the visitor center. Cipolla noted,

"Our visitor experience team estimates that about 4,000 people a year use the porta-potty. We’re considering this a somewhat urgent matter."

Competition Guidelines and Bauhaus Principles

The competition set strict guidelines to ensure submissions aligned with Gropius’ legacy:

• Reflect Bauhaus design principles through research and innovation.
• Provide a creative solution to the long-standing restroom shortage.
• Design either an extension of the visitor center (formerly Gropius’ garage) or a separate nearby structure.
• Ensure ADA accessibility with two toilets and two wash basins.
• Honor the thoughtful construction and material use of the original home and grounds.

Isabel Strauss Named Winner of the Competition

On May 7, 2025, Historic New England announced Isabel Strauss as the winner of the competition. Strauss, a graduate of Harvard’s School of Design, currently serves as an assistant professor of architecture at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. Her winning design emphasizes materiality—a core tenet of Bauhaus philosophy—as the key to creating a restroom worthy of standing alongside Gropius’ work.

About Isabel Strauss

Strauss’ approach to the project reflects her deep understanding of modernist design and her commitment to sustainable, thoughtful architecture. Her winning submission will now move forward as the new public restroom for the Gropius House, blending innovation with the site’s historic significance.

Next Steps: Bringing the Design to Life

Historic New England plans to begin construction on the winning design in the coming months. The new facility will not only address the urgent need for improved visitor amenities but also serve as a tribute to Walter Gropius’ enduring influence on modern design.